A Kalispell man has been charged with threatening a Flathead County District Judge.

Scott Peter Bolt Jr., 26, is facing a felony charge of intimidation, or in the alternative, threats and other improper influence in official and political matters, also a felony.

He faces 10 years in the Montana State Prison if convicted of the charge.

Bolt appeared in Flathead County District Court Thursday morning for his arraignment in front of retired Judge Karen Townsend. Townsend was a Missoula District Court Judge before retiring in 2019.

Bolt pleaded not guilty.

According to court documents, Bolt was accused of threatening to kill himself July 13 in a courtroom where Judge Heidi Ulbricht was presiding.

In charging documents, Bolt allegedly called Flathead County dispatch on July 4 to report he was going to kill himself July 13. He allegedly said he needed Ulbricht to grant him a new trial and he intended to kill himself.

The call was transferred to the county Sheriff’s Office despite Bolt’s request he not speak to law officers. He ended the call and an officer was unable to reach Bolt by phone.

A few hours later, a friend of Bolt called the Sheriff’s Office and said she had seen a post on social media about committing suicide. The friend emailed the post to officers.

It allegedly said to Ulbricht, “if you do not give me a retrial, I am going to walk into your lightwood courtroom with a knife held up against my neck, and then I will calmly approach the front of your courtroom, not presenting a threat to anyone other than myself rest assured of that, but I will stand in front of you and show you what it looks like when someone is intent fully stabbed with a knife.”

Bolt also allegedly wrote “You have until July 13, if this does not make a difference by then, then I will kill myself in the courtroom.”

Then, on July 6, Bolt filed the same statement he posted on social media in the Flathead County Clerk of Court.

When Ulbricht learned of the filing, she contacted the Sheriff’s Office to express her concern for her safety and the safety of court staff.

On July 7, two county Probation and Parole officers met with Bolt at the Probation Office in Kalispell. He was taken into custody and his vehicle was searched. A 3- to4-inch lock-blade knife was found in the vehicle.

Bolt was on probation for a 2013 case where he pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon. Bolt was accused of using a hunting knife while assaulting a man. He received a 15-year sentence with 10 suspended.

In 2017, Bolt filed a motion in District Court to withdraw his guilty plea. Bolt said he pleaded guilty for 10 years with five suspended and also said Deputy County Attorney Andrew Clegg recommended 20 years.

Bolt said he should have been allowed to withdraw his plea or renegotiate a plea agreement. Ulbricht denied the motion.

Judge Ulbricht also filed for a temporary order of protection, which was granted July 10 by Judge Robert Allison. A second order of protection was issued July 23 by Judge Robert Allison. It doesn’t expire until July 23, 2021.

In the petition for the order, Ulbricht detailed Bolt’s alleged threats to end his life in her courtroom. She also detailed her feelings about Bolt’s threats.

“I have been a Judge for 27 years and this is the first petition for temporary order of protection that I have filed,” Ulbricht wrote. “The Respondent’s communications have caused significant anxiety and fear for the safety of myself, my court staff and my family.”

Bolt is currently lodged in the Flathead County Detention Center on $100,000 bail.

In addition to the current charge, Bolt is also facing additional time behind bars for the possible revocation of his previous sentence.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or [email protected]