Kalispell man pleads guilty to assault

A Kalispell man admitted assaulting his wife on two occasions, in exchange for the state deferring two additional felony assault charges.

Michael Wemple, 38, pleaded guilty June 8 to two counts of partner or family member assault, both misdemeanors, before Flathead District Court Judge Amy Eddy.

As part of a plea agreement, the state deferred prosecution on two additional felony charges, both stemming from a third alleged assault on his wife and her infant son.

According to court documents, the first assault occurred in August 2016 when Wemple and his wife got into an argument that ended with him pushing her to the ground and dragging her through the house by her feet. As a result, the woman sustained multiple abrasions to her hands and legs and complained of pain all over her body.

The second assault occurred in November, according to court records. The woman’s daughter called to report her stepfather, Wemple, was beating on her mother.

When deputies arrived, the woman said Wemple was angry about the pending charge from August and had followed her around the house, yelling, pushing and grabbing her.

According to the plea agreement, the state and defense made a joint recommendation of one year in the Flathead County Detention Center for each count to run consecutively with both sentences suspended. In addition, the court required Wemple pay a total of $750 in court fees and complete 40 hours of anger management within the first six months of his probation.

If Wemple successfully completes probation without incurring any violations, the state will permanently drop the deferred felony charges.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.