A Columbia Falls man accused of stabbing another man outside a bar pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Flathead County District Court.

Jay Dean Hardy, 29, appeared with his court-appointed attorney Liam Gallagher and entered the plea on one count of assault with a weapon.

Hardy was initially jailed on $100,000 bond but later was released on his recognizance.

The case began when a woman called to report an assault at the Silver Bullet Bar at 12:38 a.m. Thursday, June 11. When a deputy from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office arrived and saw the victim, a 36-year-old Kalispell man, he was bleeding from a deep cut to his neck. The victim said a man later identified as Hardy had cut him with a knife.

He was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for treatment, according to a press release from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

The deputy saw Hardy in the parking lot. He allegedly had a knife in his pocket and the knife appeared to have blood on the handle.

The deputy spoke to another person at the scene who said he broke up the fight between the victim and Hardy. The man said the two men got into a scuffle next to the victim’s truck. When the third man broke up the fight, he saw a large hole in the victim’s neck.

The victim later spoke to a Sheriff’s Office detective and told him he was getting into his pickup truck to leave the bar when he heard someone banging on the back of his vehicle.

The victim said he yelled at the man to stop and Hardy allegedly rushed and grabbed him. He said he and Hardy “pulled at each other” for a brief moment before the third man separated them. The victim said he then noticed he had been cut.

Hardy is facing a maximum of 20 years in the Montana State Prison. As part of his release conditions, Hardy is not allowed to drink alcohol or enter bars, taverns or casinos. He is also not allowed to have any contact with the victim or witnesses.

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