A Libby man who pleaded guilty to two felony counts of assault with a weapon following a confrontation over fireworks on the Fourth of July was sentenced Monday in Lincoln County District Court.

Lorne Dee Hutton, 60, got two, four-year deferred sentences and a $500 fine. The terms will be served consecutively, meaning he will be under court supervision for eight years.

Cuffe explained that state Probation and Parole officers said Hutton was a low risk to reoffend, citing the fact the defendant had no prior criminal history. Hutton did not make a statement.

Judge Matt Cuffe’s determination followed a plea deal between Deputy County Attorney Jeff Zwang and Hutton’s attorney, Ryan Peabody. Hutton entered the pleas Oct. 6. 

Peabody had two requests and Cuffe granted both. One was striking the $800 public defender’s fee because Peabody was Hutton’s private counsel. The other was a condition of consuming alcohol.

“This offense didn’t include alcohol and his common-law wife sometimes likes to have a drink,” Peabody said.

According to court documents, Hutton brandished a firearm and nearly struck two individuals with his vehicle during a dispute near Minnesota Avenue and East Maple Street in Libby. Lincoln County deputies responded to the incident shortly after receiving a report from a man who said his neighbor had pulled a gun on him and his 15-year-old son.

In the July 4 incident, the father told authorities he and his son were lighting fireworks across the street from their home on county property, outside city limits. He said Hutton, upset about the noise, drove a 2003 Ford F-350 toward them, jumped a curb near the Port Authority building and stopped abruptly before allegedly pointing a handgun in their direction.

Multiple witnesses at the scene corroborated the account, telling deputies that Hutton drove toward the two and appeared to come close to hitting them with his vehicle.

Police records show that Hutton had contacted dispatch minutes earlier, complaining that neighbors were lighting fireworks and that the noise was disturbing his dogs. Dispatch advised him that since the activity was occurring on county land and not within city limits, there was little law enforcement could do.

Deputies made contact with Hutton by phone and instructed him to exit his residence. He complied and was detained without incident. Authorities noted the engine of Hutton’s truck was still warm and that fresh mud tracks were visible in the driveway.

During questioning, Hutton admitted he may have driven over the curb but denied pointing a firearm at anyone. He said he was frustrated by the repeated fireworks and upset that law enforcement was not taking action.

Deputies also spoke with Hutton’s wife, who stated she was unaware of her husband’s actions but did not appear surprised by the allegations.

Law enforcement recovered a silver EAA Witness .45 ACP handgun from the residence. The firearm was loaded with eight rounds, though none were chambered. It was seized as evidence.