Kalispell woman brought up on child abuse charges avoids prosecution
DERRICK PERKINS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months, 2 weeks AGO
NEWS EDITOR Derrick Perkins serves as News Editor at the Daily Inter Lake. He oversees daily news coverage and works closely with reporters to plan, edit and publish stories across print and digital platforms. Perkins helps coordinate coverage of local government, public safety, business and community developments throughout Northwest Montana. He works with the reporting staff to strengthen journalism while maintaining consistent daily coverage. His role helps ensure the newsroom delivers timely, accurate reporting that readers rely on. IMPACT: Derrick’s work keeps readers informed about the decisions and events shaping their communities every day. | February 2, 2026 11:00 PM
A Kalispell woman accused of punching and kicking her two children in 2025 later took a deferred prosecution agreement.
Haley Sue Arla Herman, 31, initially faced two felony counts of assault on a minor in Flathead County District Court after her May 31 arrest. She pleaded not guilty at her June 3 arraignment before Judge Danni Coffman.
But prosecutors, citing a deferred prosecution agreement, filed a motion to dismiss the case in mid-September. Coffman ordered the case dismissed on Sept. 18.
Herman's arrest came after her two children, aged 13 and 11 at the time, accused her of punching and kicking them, according to court documents. Kalispell Police officers described seeing an apparent bruise on one of the children's foreheads, court documents said.
Herman told officers that the children had acted disrespectfully that day and allegedly admitted to smacking their arms. She said she never hit or kicked them, but acknowledged verbally abusing them at times, according to court documents.
News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].
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