A Eureka man is in the Lincoln County Detention Center accused of violently abusing several family members over a period of several years.

Michael S. Bernhard is facing nine criminal counts, including eight felonies, for alleged actions between 2023 and 2026. The felonies include assault with a weapon, witness tampering, assault on a minor. The lone misdemeanor count is for partner or family member assault, bodily injury.

His bail is set at $250,000. Bernhard’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, in front of Judge Jay Sheffield in Lincoln County Justice Court.

According to the charging document filed by county deputy attorney Lauren O’Neill, Bernhard used a weapon to cause bodily injury to another person and believing an investigation was pending, tried to cause a witness to withhold information.

In relation to the assault on a minor charges, Bernhard is accused of placing a child’s hands into a vise and striking them with a wire brush. He is also accused of shooting a child with a pellet or BB gun, causing injury. Bernhard is also alleged to have struck a second child with a belt and a cord.

At the time of the alleged offenses, both children were under the age of 14.

The PFMA charge resulted after he allegedly punched a woman in the face.

Bernhard is facing decades in the Montana State Prison if convicted of the felony charges. An assault with weapon conviction may result in a 20-year term while witness tampering may result in a 10-year term. For assault on a minor, a conviction may result in a 5-year term.

The maximum term on the misdemeanor charge is one year in the  county jail. Fines could range from $1,000 to $50,000.