A Kalispell man has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge Thursday in Flathead District Court after being accused of repeatedly assaulting a woman.

Jason Dunham, 35, is charged with partner or family member assault, a charge that carries a penalty of between 30 days in jail and five years in prison, a fine of between $500 and $50,000, and mandatory counseling.

He allegedly became enraged and verbally abusive April 10 when a woman refused to give him drinking money during a conversation in her car. Dunham then allegedly twisted her arm and wrist, bit her on the hand, threw her purse out of the car, took her cellphone and broke off the gearshift.

According to a court document, responding Kalispell officers found the woman “still in her car, visibly upset and shaken,” with blood on her hand where she had been bitten.

The woman reportedly told police she was afraid for her safety, that Dunham had assaulted her many times, “including times when he had strangled her to the point where she could not breathe.”

Dunham previously was convicted of partner assault in August 1995, June 1998, and May 2004. He also was convicted in 1996 of criminal possession of dangerous drugs for which he received a five-year Montana State Prison sentence.

The document goes on to note that he was convicted in 2007 for criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a probation violation for partner or family member assault and was sentenced to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections. He was discharged Jan. 9 this year.

“Having been recently released from prison, he is also subject to being designated a persistent felony offender,” the document states.

Dunham’s next hearing is set for May 8. He is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where his bond is set at $25,000.