Man pleads no contest to felony endangerment charges

A Libby man pleaded no contest on Dec. 28 to charges of criminal endangerment after allegedly firing a rifle at his wife’s vehicle.

David Charles Striplin, 53, is charged with two felony counts of criminal endangerment and one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief. He faces a maximum $101,500 in fines and 20 years, six months imprisonment.

A no-contest plea does not admit explicit guilt, but it does acknowledge that there is substantial evidence against the defendant.

Striplin’s sentencing is set for March 6, 2017.

According to court documents, Striplin on Sept. 18 fired a gun at his wife’s car while she and another woman were standing nearby. While no one was injured, the shots allegedly damaged a tire and the radiator.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Brent Faulkner received a report that day about a disturbance at Striplin’s home. Striplin’s wife had reportedly decided to accept Striplin’s offer to come retrieve her things from his home after they had separated. She had planned to bring two other people, who had also lived at the residence, to retrieve their belongings as well. In exchange for the three to come retrieve their items, Striplin reportedly had expected them to return his pickup truck.

Striplin allegedly became angry at the condition of his pickup when the group arrived and the meeting quickly escalated into an altercation in which both parties say the other side began assaulting the opposite party.

According to court documents, Striplin grabbed his rifle and fired at least one round in the air. Striplin’s wife and the other woman were reportedly standing near their vehicle when Striplin then fired four rounds into the car, one allegedly aimed at the radiator and three fired at the tire. Faulkner took the tire as evidence.

Striplin also tried to stab the tire with a kitchen knife, according to court documents.

When Faulkner arrived at the residence, Striplin allegedly told him he had disabled the car because the group had decided to take his air conditioner with them while retrieving their belongings.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.