A Libby man is facing domestic assault charges after an incident at his residence late last year.

Kenneth Wesley Ray Guinard, 27, pleaded not guilty Dec. 22, 2025, in Lincoln County District Court to felony strangulation of a partner or family member and a misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault.

Guinard is free after posting $25,000 bail on Dec. 22. His pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 23.

Lincoln County deputy attorney Jeff Zwang is prosecuting the case while Maury Solomon is defending Guinard.

According to the charging document, Libby police officer Don Luthey reported to a residence Dec. 2 on Utah Avenue for a domestic disturbance. He was accompanied by city police chief Cody Ercanbrack, county Sgt. James Derryberry and county deputy Michael Avila.

According to the alleged victim, she and Guinard were in a relationship/marriage for about seven years and had three children together. She said the relationship ended two years ago and both of them were in other relationships. Court records indicate they got a marriage license in March 2022.

She said she was living in Havre, but ended a relationship and moved back to Libby. She also said Guinard allowed her to move into his residence with their three children on a temporary basis until she found another place to live.

The woman said on Dec. 1 she walked into Guinard's bedroom and saw a glass smoking pipe. She photographed it with her phone and showed it to Ofc. Luthey. Investigators didn’t find the pipe. Guinard said the pipe belonged to a friend and he allowed the man to leave it at the home with some other items.

Then, on Dec. 2, the alleged victim said she entered Guinard’s bedroom and asked him for a cigarette because his new girlfriend owed him one. They began to argue about their children when the defendant allegedly grabbed his ex by the throat and pushed her into the kitchen. The woman said she grabbed a glass vase and struck Guinard in the hand. She said he pushed her to the floor, then let her go and she called police.

Ofc. Luthey said he saw redness around her neck and four scratches on the right side of her throat. The alleged victim said she had difficulty breathing during the incident. She also said during that time, two of Guinard’s new girlfriend’s children were in the residence at the time. 

According to Guinard, he refused to give the alleged victim a cigarette and she banged on the glass bedroom door then yelled and spit on him. He also denied choking her. He said his new girlfriend’s two children, ages 3 and 4, were in the home during the incident.

Guinard gave Luthey permission to talk to the kids. Luthey said he spoke to the 4-year-old who said Guinard pushed the alleged victim against the refrigerator before the woman kicked him in a sensitive area.

Luthey searched the bedroom, but never found the pipe or other illegal items. 

The officer then arrested Guinard and took him to the county jail.

A conviction on the felony strangulation charge may result in a 5-year term in the Montana State Prison. A conviction on the misdemeanor may result in a 1-year term in the county jail.