A Flathead Valley man accused of threatening his neighbor with a shotgun in September has pleaded not guilty to a felony assault with a weapon charge.  

David James Hawks, 62, was arraigned before Judge Paul Sullivan in Flathead County District Court on Oct. 29. He is expected back in court on Dec. 21 for a pretrial conference.  

The victim told Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies about 7 a.m., Sept. 29 that an agitated Hawks had pulled up at his Trumbull Canyon Road home and accused him of shooting out the windows of several of his vehicles, according to court documents. Amid the accusations, Hawks allegedly armed himself with a shotgun and pointed it at the victim.  

"First one's non-lethal, and when you turn around and run I got a slug," Hawks said, according to court documents.  

Fearing for his life, the victim retreated into his home, court documents said. 

Hawks' landlord told deputies that the 62-year-old visited him after the alleged confrontation. He described Hawks as drunk, worked up and complaining about broken windows. He joined Hawks in heading back to the victim's home in the hopes of mediating between them, but gave up when Hawks grabbed a shotgun, according to court documents.  

"A round for his gut and a slug," Hawks said as he loaded it, court documents alleged.  

Reached by phone, Hawks allegedly declined to meet with investigators or disclose his location. After asserting his right to open carry a firearm, Hawks first described the shotgun as unloaded, but later said it contained less-lethal rounds.  

Arrested at his workplace, Hawks allegedly acknowledged having an unloaded shotgun on him during the confrontation but said he never aimed it at the victim. He also said he had less-lethal ammunition on him "in case something went on," according to court documents.  

"As far as I know in Montana you can open-carry anything anywhere, it's not against the law," he allegedly told them before declining to talk further.  

If convicted of assault with a weapon, Hawks 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.