Hungry Horse man gets 80 years for wife's murder

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

A Hungry Horse man has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for murdering his wife.

Charles Smith Jr., 51, pleaded no contest last month in Flathead County District Court to shooting his wife, Jody Smith. He was arrested last December.

Last week, District Judge Stewart Stadler sentenced Smith on the charge of deliberate homicide.

The shooting occurred in the evening of Dec. 9 at the couple's home on First Avenue West North in Hungry Horse.

Jody Smith was reportedly sitting in a chair sewing when Charles Smith used a 9-mm pistol to shoot her four times in the chest and abdomen, court documents state.

Smith called 911 and was on the front porch when police arrived. He surrendered peacefully.

In District Court last week, a family member described an abusive relationship between the two. Smith had been arrested at least twice for allegedly assaulting his wife. The shooting appeared to have resulted after a domestic argument. Smith faced up to 100 years or life in prison for the shooting, plus a possible 10 years added for the use of a firearm.

Smith reportedly has cancer and so the sentence could likely be a life sentence.