Woman re-sentenced for Canyon shooting incident

A 30-year-old former Hungry Horse woman was given a five-year suspended sentence for failing to register as a violent offender.

Flathead County District Court Judge Heidi Ulbricht also revoked Leaha Terrell’s earlier suspended sentence for felony solicitation of assault with a weapon.

The assault charge originated with an incident in Hungry Horse on July 21, 2012. According to court records, Terrell’s boyfriend, Ray Bell, 41, allegedly fired a gun at several men after they drove past his home following an argument at the Dam Town Tavern. The driver later went to North Valley Hospital to have shotgun pellets removed from his arm.

Shortly after the first shooting incident, two women drove to Bell’s home to see what happened. The women later reported seeing Bell aim a “long gun” at them. One of the women claimed she heard Terrell shout, “Shoot them, Ray, shoot them.” The two women claimed Bell fired three times at their vehicle.

Terrell was initially charged with one count of felony assault with a weapon and one count of felony solicitation of assault with a weapon. She faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted of those charges.

Flathead County District Court Judge David Ortley sentenced Terrell on the second count on Jan. 17, 2013, following a plea agreement. He sentenced her to five years with the Department of Corrections, all suspended.

In November 2013, the state probation office in Kalispell reported several violations by Terrell, including moving without reporting, testing positive for methamphetamine and failing to register as a violent offender.

Judge Ulbricht revoked Terrell’s suspended sentence for solicitation of assault and sentenced her to five years with the Department of Corrections with recommendation for placement at the Passages treatment facility in Montana.

Ulbricht also sentenced Terrell to five years, all suspended and consecutive to the first sentence, for not registering as a violent offender. She will get credit for time served.

Terrell was also ordered to pay $2,806 for extradition costs. The $1,000 fine and $800 public defender fee were suspended.

Bell was sentenced in May 2013 to 10 years with the Department of Corrections with five suspended for his role in the shooting incident.