A 28-year-old man is behind bars after allegedly threatening a group of kids in Woodland Park with a handgun earlier this month.

Kaynen Robert McGuire faces one count of felony assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court following the alleged June 19 dispute. Held in the county jail with bail set at $50,000, he is expected to appear before Judge Danni Coffman for his arraignment on July 10.

Kalispell Police officers arriving at the park about 4:01 p.m. for a reported disturbance involving a weapon met with an 11-year-old, who accused McGuire of threatening to shoot him and his friends, according to court documents. McGuire, according to the child, lifted his shirt to show the children a gun with a black handle.

Another 11-year-old told officers that McGuire first threatened to shoot them and then said he planned to come back with his brother to beat them up, according to court documents. A 12-year-old, meanwhile, alleged that McGuire told the group he would pay to have someone beat them up, court documents said. The 12-year-old also reported seeing a gun on McGuire, according to court documents.

McGuire allegedly spoke to officers after they read him his rights and told them he intervened after seeing one child hassle another. He denied showing off his handgun, which he said usually rests unholstered in his pocket, court documents said.

Authorities described the weapon as a black 9 mm pistol in court documents.

McGuire also alleged that a child insulted him while he was skateboarding in the Woodland Skate Park, court documents said. In response, McGuire said he would send his little brother to beat up the child for his disrespectful behavior, according to court documents.

He said he never threatened to shoot anyone, court documents said.

If convicted, McGuire faces up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].