Libby man gets 8 years suspended for assault

A Libby man convicted for felony criminal endangerment was sentenced March 12 in Montana 19th Judicial District Court to a suspended eight year prison term with credit for his 148 days in detention.

Jeremy Townsend was charged with assaulting a Libby woman on Sept. 1.

On that day, an affidavit states, Libby Police Department Sergeant Darren Short responded to a dispatch of an assault in progress at the Country Inn on West 9th Street.

Witnesses reported a man repeatedly punching and pushing a woman.

Short stated that he observed the woman, Brittany Chumley, appearing upset and to have been crying. He also noted “obvious red marks” on her neck, chest and arms. He noted that she appeared afraid and did not want to talk to him.

Short arrested Townsend for partner or family member assault and transported him to the detention center.

Short returned to the scene to take witness statements. Witness accounts included Townsend repeatedly striking Chumley and dragging her around the building and shoving her across the street when the two were told they were trespassing.

Witnesses also reported Townsend threatening and poking Chumley with “a metal object, which appeared to be a knife.”

In the affidavit, Short said that Chumley alleged Townsend led her from her door with a knife held to her armpit before he began striking her and pulling her hair.

At his sentencing, Townsend admitted to assaulting Chumley, but contended that he had not used a knife in the course of the events of Sept. 1.

In passing sentence, Judge Matt Cuffe said that it was unusual for him to follow the negotiated plea when it was different from what was indicated by the pre-sentencing investigation. Cuffe brought up the long criminal history Townsend has had involving substance abuse and that he had previous opportunities to improve himself.

Townsend testified that he has been and will be living with his mother, and that he has surrounded himself with a better group of people than he had in the past. He assured the court he was determined to comply with his supervised, suspended sentence.

In addition to Townsend, Peabody and Assistant County Attorney Jeffrey Zwang made extended statements in support of the plea agreement. Townsend’s mother also testified to the veracity of Townsend living with her, his improved behavior in that time, and having associated himself with a better group of people than in the past.