Flathead deputy reacts to Gentry plea deal

The Flathead County sheriff’s deputy who shot a woman during a 2013 incident doesn’t mince words: Caleb Pleasants is disappointed that Michelle Gentry’s prosecution was deferred.

Gentry was armed and suicidal during an October 2013 encounter where she allegedly aimed a handgun at Pleasants, a member of the SWAT team.

Pleasants responded by firing 15 rounds from his AR-15, hitting Gentry twice.

“I was disappointed in the county attorney’s decision to defer prosecution,” Pleasants said. “Anyone who assaults another person with a firearm, I think, deserves immediate prosecution. Whatever the findings are is up to the court, but at least then it’s tried.”

Pleasants said the incident doesn’t affect him in his day-to-day work and won’t make him more hesitant to fire his weapon if the situation calls for it.

“I’ve been through a lot, regardless of this particular case,” Pleasants said. “It’s legally within my rights to defend myself or other people, just like I’ve always done and always will.”  

But he said that anyone who commits an assault with a firearm deserves prosecution.

“I’m very glad [Gentry] recovered from her injuries and I hope she gets the help she needs for her mental and chemical dependency problems,” Pleasants said. “But her assault on me and the other people on my team which caused me to have to take the actions I did — which weren’t pleasant — it deserves immediate prosecution.”

After the shooting, Pleasants was cleared by a shooting review board. He still is an active member of the SWAT team.

Gentry, 55, had been charged with assault on a peace officer for allegedly pointing a gun at Pleasants.

The Flathead County Attorney’s Office and Gentry’s attorney last week signed a two-year deferred prosecution agreement.

The agreement stipulates that Gentry must remain a law-abiding citizen for those two years, cannot possess any firearms and is to avoid alcohol.

If Gentry abides by those conditions, the charge will be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it can never be brought up again.