A 20-year-old Kalispell man is accused of attempting to choke the driver of a vehicle, endangering the lives of the occupants.

Al Justin Jordan Martinez entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court on Oct 22 to felony criminal endangerment. According to court records, on Oct. 6, a deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Charlo area on a report of drunk and disorderly people.

At the scene, a deputy spoke with a woman who indicated that Martinez asked for a ride, and she obliged. There were two other occupants in the vehicle.

As the woman drove, Martinez allegedly threatened to kill everyone in the vehicle, then started choking the driver. She pulled over and tried to escape the chokehold. She said if it were not for the help of the other two occupants, she wouldn’t have gotten out of it.

The charging documents make no mention of a motive for the alleged attack.

Judge John A. Mercer set the case for trial on Feb. 8. Martinez remains in custody on cash bail of $2,500.