A man from Spokane, Wash., with ties to Lake County is accused of an unprovoked stabbing in Arlee. Chauncy Franklin Whitwright, 46, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson on Jan. 29 to felony assault with a weapon.

According to charging documents, on Jan. 9, law enforcement officers and emergency services responded to a reported stabbing as a residence on Pow Wow Road in Arlee. A man at the residence claimed that he was cleaning out his van when Whitwright allegedly stabbed him without saying anything and for no apparent reason.

A witness at the scene indicated that the two men had a verbal argument about a week prior, which she was not present for. She also indicated that Whitwright bit her on the arm when she tried to stop the assault, before he fled on foot. She described the weapon used as a black knife about six inches long.

Meanwhile, the stabbing victim was transported to a hospital in Missoula where he received seven or eight staples to close a cut on his head. He also had emergency surgery due to a collapsed lung caused by another stab wound.

Officers located Whitwright about 90 minutes later hiding behind a couch at another residence in Arlee, and took him into custody. After he was read his rights, he denied having a knife or stabbing anyone.

He also said he was the one that was attacked and that the attack occurred at another person’s trailer. Officers spoke to that person who indicated no altercation took place at her residence.

A request that the suspect be released on his own recognizance or bail lowered to $25,000, and Whitwright be allowed to reside at his mother’s residence in Arlee on home arrest, was denied.

Prosecutor Brendan McQuillan with the Lake County Attorney’s Office objected to lowering bond and cited Whitwright’s lengthy criminal history, which includes felony convictions in Idaho and Washington.

Judge John A. Mercer set a trial for June 8 and lowered bond from $250,000 to $200,000.