Man charged with shooting at wife, chaplain

A Flathead County man is facing two felony charges after he allegedly fired a gun at his wife and a Sheriff’s Office chaplain trying to mediate a dispute between the two in the Marion area.

Johnanthony Evangelestomp, 52, was charged with assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment after an altercation May 29 in the Marion area.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Randy Olson, chaplain for the Sheriff’s Office, contacted Undersheriff Dave Leib to report he had been shot at. Commander Brian Heino then spoke with Olson who said he had been at Evangelestomp’s residence helping the man and his wife work on some marital issues.

Olson said Evangelestomp left the home, but returned a short time later to retrieve his gun. When his wife learned Evangelestomp was retrieving his gun, she got in her vehicle and began to leave the residence, according to the complaint.

Olson said that Evangelestomp came out of the residence with a pistol, pointed it over Olson’s left shoulder in his wife’s direction as she was driving away and allegedly fired one round. Olson said Evangelestomp said “the (expletive) is leaving” as he allegedly fired the gun.

Olson said Evangelestomp swung the gun over his right shoulder and allegedly fired four more rounds toward the neighboring church.

When law officers spoke with Evangelestomp at the residence, he reportedly admitted that he and his wife were having problems and he had solicited the assistance of Olson. He also said he was drunk and very angry.

Evangelestomp allegedly admitted to firing the gun and that he had scared Olson.

When officers spoke with Evangelestomp’s wife, she said she heard gun shots as she left the residence.

According to a press release from county Sheriff Chuck Curry, the county SWAT team and Sheriff’s Office negotiators responded.

The release indicated negotiators were able to speak to Evangelestomp and got him to come out of the residence unarmed. He was taken into custody without incident.

Evangelestomp is facing a maximum term of 20 years in the Montana State Prison on the assault with a weapon charge and up to 10 years on the endangerment count.

His arraignment is scheduled for June 14.

He is currently lodged in the county jail and his bail was set at $75,000.