Libby man sentenced for two felonies, one misdemeanor

Robert Gene Clift of Libby was sentenced Monday, Nov. 13, in Lincoln County 19th Judicial District Court by Judge Matt Cuffe.

Clift was found guilty of aggravated assault, a felony, unlawful restraint, a misdemeanor, and witness tampering, a felony, by a jury on Aug. 31, 2017.

The charges against Clift stemmed from an assault that was reported on Sept. 12, 2016. On that day Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Brent Faulkner responded to a women reported lying in a driveway of a Falcon Trail home.

The victim, Amber Pierce, told Faulkner that Clift had assaulted her. She had been shopping with Clift in Kalispell and was returning to Libby when the assault started in the vehicle after a short stop at The Kickin’ Horse Saloon near Happy’s Inn. A witness reported seeing a man and women at the Hammer Cutoff Road on Highway 2 what looked to be arguing. Officers responded and were unable to locate the two.

Pierce told Faulkner that after the argument and drive back to Libby from Kalipsell, Clift had taken her to his home and assaulted her. After he passed out she left his home, after which she was found in a neighbor’s driveway.

The pre-sentence investigation report prepared by Probation and Parole Office Steve Watson was admitted into court. The recommendations from the report were 20 years in the Department Of Corrections with none suspended for the aggravated assault charge, six months in the Lincoln County Detention Facility for the charge of unlawful restraint to run consecutive to the assault charge, and 10 years with DOC with all suspended and to run consecutive with the assault charge. The report also recommended that he not be eligible for parole for 10 years.

Clift’s attorney, Sean Hinchey of Kalipsell, argued that his client had accepted accountability by going to trial and maintaining his innocence. He also expressed to the court that Clift had no criminal history.

Lincoln County Attorney Marcia Boris told the court that Clift had assaulted Pierce and caused severe physical harm, to the extent she spent two days in the intensive care unit for brain bleeds and other injuries to her body. She ended by telling the court that Clift could potentially create an issue of public safety.

Cuffe sentenced Clift on the conviction of felony aggravated assault to 15 years at the DOC with none suspended and credit for 424 days served. To the charge of unlawful restraint, a misdemeanor, Clift was sentenced to six months in the Lincoln County Detention Center with all suspended and to run concurrent with the assault sentence. On the third charge of tampering with a witness, a felony, Clift was sentenced to 10 years, all suspended and to run consecutive to the assault charge as well.

Cuffe told Clift it was a just and appropriate sentence due to the nature of the crime. Cuffe also said the sentence was needed for public safety.

Clift was remanded to the custody of Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for transport to the DOC.