Eureka man pleads guilty in assault case

A Eureka man was given an 18-month suspended sentence on Monday for a February incident where he assaulted his girlfriend and resisted officers who tried to take him to jail.

Eric Paul Evans, 44, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor partner/family member assault and misdemeanor resisting arrest as part of a plea bargain where a felony partner/family assault charge was dismissed.

Evans admitted on the stand to physically assaulting the victim.

“I am guilty, your honor,” Evans said.

According to court documents Evans was taken into custody Feb. 9 at Hillside Lane in Eureka after a woman reported that Evans got drunk, pulled a knife on her during an argument, and threatened to kill the woman by breaking her neck. She also said Evans bent her fingers backwards to the point where she thought he might break her hand.

When officers offered to take Evans to jail or a hotel for the night, Evans became argumentative and belligerent.

As officers took him into custody, he resisted arrest by putting his feet into door jambs and against other objects to prevent forward motion. He also collapsed his legs so he fell to the ground and kicked at officers. The officers hogtied him and were assisted by U.S. Border Patrol agents in getting him into a patrol car.

Lincoln County District Court Judge James Wheelis warned Evans against accruing more partner/family assault charges, which qualify as felonies after a third conviction.

“These charges can add up,” Wheelis said.

Evans was fined $500, ordered to pay $160 in court costs, and ordered to pay $250 in restitution.

Evans asked for as much time as possible to pay the costs. He claimed he had a business in Kalispell that had been lost because of his incarceration.

“This has turned into a tragedy for me,” Evans said. “It’s just I’ve lost my truck. I don’t even have shoes to wear.”

The judge agreed to issue a civil standby order so some of Evans’ property might be returned to him by law enforcement, without Evans coming into contact with his victim.

Evans was ordered to not have contact with his victim and was ordered to enter an anger management program within six months. He must pay his court costs within 10 months.

He is barred from consuming alcohol or frequenting bars or casinos during the term of his suspended sentence.

“Anything other than a parking ticket would be a violation of probation,” Wheelis warned.