A 44-year-old Kalispell man allegedly pulled a gun on his wife earlier this month after she confronted him over his drinking and behavior toward the couple's children.  

Joashua Allen Willard faces a felony charge of criminal endangerment and a misdemeanor count of tampering with a communication device following the June 7 confrontation on Fourth Avenue West. He is expected to appear before Judge Heidi Ulbricht in Flathead County District Court on June 19 for his arraignment.  

Willard's wife told arriving Kalispell Police officers that the 44-year-old had started yelling at the children while drinking heavily, including drinking tequila shots, and smoking marijuana, according to court documents. She recalled confronting him in the backyard, which served to anger him.  

Willard allegedly got up and pulled a gun from his waistband. He stuck it next to her head, aiming at the side of the house. A child was sleeping in a bedroom behind that wall, according to court documents. 

Willard later allegedly fired the gun into the ground. Frightened, his wife grabbed her cell phone and her child's cell phone. She told him he needed to leave and that she was calling the police, court documents said.  

Grabbing the phones from her, Willard allegedly said that wasn't going to happen.  

In a subsequent interview with investigators, Willard recalled growing angry after his wife argued with him about his girlfriend, according to court documents. He allegedly admitted to aiming the gun at the side of the house and firing it into the ground.  

Willard also admitted to taking the cell phones, telling investigators that he paid for the devices, according to court documents. He said that his wife only threatened to call the police after he took possession of the phones, court documents said.  

Criminal endangerment is punishable by up to 10 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine. Misdemeanor tampering with a communication device carries a maximum penalty of six months in the county jail and a $1,000 fine. 

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