Gentry strikes deal with county prosecutors

A Libby man brought up on a slew of charges after allegedly assaulting an ex-girlfriend in October changed his plea in Lincoln County District Court on April 27 as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Khristafer Gentry, who also goes by Kristopher and Kristafer, pleaded guilty to a single, felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Authorities will drop the other four charges, which include partner or family member assault, third or subsequent offense, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.

He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors will recommend Gentry receive a five-year sentence in the state Department of Corrections with two years suspended.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Gentry after receiving a report of a man and woman fighting in a parked sport utility vehicle Oct. 25. According to an affidavit written by Deputy Luke Hauke, Gentry was calm when interacting with law enforcement personnel and spoke only when asked a question.

While Sgt. Brandon Holzer arrested and searched Gentry, Hauke interviewed his former girlfriend. She suffered a cut and swollen lip, and had blood stained hands from wiping the wound.

“I’m scared, I’m scared,” she told Hauke during their conversation.

She had picked up Gentry earlier in the day, according to Hauke’s account, and was taking him to a friend’s house. Despite their romantic history, she hoped the two might remain friends if he stayed sober, she told authorities.

But during the ride, he began accusing her of having relations with other men, court documents said. She told authorities he struck her with a closed fist, and it was not the first time.

“He has hit me before,” Hauke recalled her saying. “I’ve just not turned him in before.”

A search of Gentry’s backpack, left in the vehicle, turned up a small, fanny pack. That allegedly contained two hypodermic needles, a clear glass pipe with brown and white residue, a curvy glass pipe with brown residue smelling of marijuana, an empty flask and a small tin.

When Hauke opened the tin, he found six unused baggies and two more containing white powder residue, court documents said. Another was full of translucent crystals and white powder, which weighed about two grams of what later tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine, documents said.

Gentry’s previous partner or family member assault convictions occurred in June 2017 and July 2000.

His sentencing hearing on his most recent charge is scheduled for June 8.