A man who allegedly admitted breaking a beer bottle over a bar patron's head in early June is now facing a felony charge in Flathead County District Court.  

Conar Allen Dilley, 32, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon before Judge Paul Sullivan on June 18. He is expected back in court Sept. 29 for a pretrial conference.  

Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies spoke with the victim after responding to a report of a possible stabbing at an Evergreen bar about 1:47 a.m., June 7. Witnesses told investigators that the man appeared confused, covered in blood, and suffering from stab wounds and a swollen head, according to court documents.  

The victim remembered being hit in the face while leaving the bar, court documents said. Upon getting into his vehicle and realizing his seat and clothes were bloodied, he returned to the bar for help.  

Deputies described finding a trail of blood leading from the victim's still-running vehicle back to the business.  

Reviewing surveillance footage of the bar, deputies saw the victim leave alongside another man, who was holding a glass beer bottle, and two women. Minutes later, the video captured the victim returning with a blood stain on the back of his shirt.  

Investigators found a broken beer bottle in the parking lot, court documents said.   

During a second interview at the hospital later that morning, the victim told deputies he did not know who struck him. By then investigators could see that he had a red and slightly swollen cheek and circular wounds on his back. The wounds featured a pattern of jagged points similar in shape to a broken beer bottle, court documents said.  

About 12:44 p.m. that day, Dilley and his fiancé walked into the Sheriff's Office lobby and asked to speak with investigators, court documents said. Met by a detective, Dilley allegedly recounted arriving at the bar about 9:30 p.m. the night prior for a friend's birthday. He accused the victim of repeatedly acting rudely toward his fiancé when she went to the bar for a drink.  

He also described the victim as saying odd things to him, according to court documents. As an example, he recalled the victim instructing him to wash his hands when they were in the bathroom together.  

Dilley accused the victim of following them out of the bar and trying to get into one of their vehicles, according to court documents. When Dilley's fiancé confronted the victim, he allegedly called her a curse word. At that, Dilley said he hit the victim with a beer bottle and then threw the broken beer bottle at him, according to court documents.  

Dilley said he left afterward, thinking it was a typical bar fight, court documents said.  

Dilley's fiancé also recounted the victim's odd behavior to the detective, accusing him of cursing at her inside the bar, court documents alleged.  

But both she and Dilley agreed that the victim did not hit, push or threaten Dilley before Dilley hit him with a beer bottle, according to court documents.  

If convicted, Dilley faces up to 20 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.