A Flathead County man has been given a probationary sentence for drunkenly shooting and making family members fear for their safety in October 2015.

Randal James Hunt, 45, pleaded no contest to felony criminal endangerment in the case, according to court documents. He maintains his innocence in the case and disputes the state’s allegations.

Flathead District Judge David Ortley deferred imposition of sentence to three years. A deferred imposition of sentence puts a person under the supervision of felony probation and parole, but allows the defendant’s record to be wiped clean of the charge if he or she completes probation successfully.

Hunt was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine with $500 suspended.

In charging documents prosecutors claimed Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance at a residence on Oct. 3, 2015. A family member said Hunt was drunk and told everyone to stay away from him before he fired a shot from his rifle.

He was reloading the rifle as one of the family members spoke with deputies. The family member said she feared Hunt would shoot her or her children.

Officers found a spent Remington .700mm casing in the chamber of the gun and a live round in the magazine.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].