A man accused of punching a Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputy in June 2023 later received a five-year sentence.  

Charged with one felony count of assault on a peace officer in Flathead County District Court, 39-year-old Cody Wayne Brown initially maintained his innocence, but pleaded out in January 2024.  

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a separate drunk driving case against Brown and would request his sentence run concurrent with another case out of Missoula County. Under the terms of the deal, prosecutors would seek a five-year prison sentence while Brown's defense attorney was free to argue for a five-year stint with the state Department of Corrections. 

Brown entered a guilty plea before Judge Dan Wilson on Jan. 4, 2024. In February of that year, Wilson handed down a five-year sentence to the Department of Corrections. He gave Brown credit for 264 days of time served.  

Brown's run-in with the deputies occurred after a motorist reported nearly striking a man crawling along U.S. 93 near the intersection with Boon Road about 2:04 a.m., June 3, 2023, according to court documents. Responding deputies attempted to talk with the man —later identified as Brown — but he allegedly rebuffed them.  

When the deputies arrested him, Brown allegedly punched one in the face, giving her a bloody nose. 

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