A Bigfork man accused of violently assaulting his girlfriend has had his assault charge dismissed after he pleaded guilty to felony criminal endangerment.

Curtis Chapman, 21, was arrested Aug. 19 after his girlfriend ran onto the Marina Cay property in Bigfork covered in blood and screaming for help.

Chapman was accused of punching her and screaming at her while she drove before putting his foot over hers on the gas pedal and forcing the truck into a ditch off Montana 82.

She managed to get out of the truck and left, but returned for her phone, at which point he “snuck up behind her and began violently striking her in the face, neck and head and threw her back into the truck,” according to a court document.

Chapman was also alleged to have tried to strangle her and slamming her to the ground, nearly knocking her out.

During his testimony Thursday in Flathead District Court, Chapman admitted only that, during an argument in the truck after he had taken the wheel, he said he would kill them both and swerved toward a bridge.

Chapman originally was charged with attempted deliberate homicide, later reduced to two felony counts of aggravated assault and criminal endangerment. The assault charge was dismissed Thursday.

Flathead District Deputy Attorney Allison Howard said the difficulty in proceeding with the assault charge was due to the girlfriend’s lack of cooperation. She was “passionate about trying to stop this case from going forward,” Howard said.

Chapman testified they were no longer together but they did have a child together.

The plea agreement includes a recommendation from the attorney’s office that Chapman face up to 10 years when he is sentenced April 10, but Chapman retains the right to withdraw his guilty plea if District Judge Robert Allison decides a longer sentence is appropriate.