A Kila man who pulled a knife on a hospital employee in June received a trio of suspended jail sentences last month.  

Prosecutors brought 49-year-old Clifford Daniel Joseph up on a felony intimidation charge in Flathead County District Court following the May 17 confrontation inside a Kalispell medical center. Although he maintained his innocence at his June 11 arraignment, Joseph took a plea deal in October.  

Under the arrangement, Joseph agreed to plead guilty to amended charges of misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct and negligent endangerment. In exchange, prosecutors were to recommended he receive suspended sentences for all three.  

Joseph entered his guilty pleas on Oct. 1. That same day, Judge Danni Coffman handed down a suspended six-month sentence for assault, suspended 10-day sentence for disorderly conduct and a suspended one-year sentence for negligent endangerment. She ordered the three sentences to run concurrently and gave Joseph credit for 24 days of time served.  

Joseph's arrest came after he demanded the hospital treat a friend or "they would have to see him," according to court documents. Telling the employee working behind the registration desk that she was failing to grasp his meaning, Joseph allegedly pulled out a knife and shook it at her.  

As Kalispell Police officers headed to the medical center, a pair of nurses arrived to escort Joseph from the building. When he allegedly tried reaching for the knife again, the nurses attempted to put him on the ground.  

One of the nurses suffered a broken femur in the exchange, court documents said. 

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.