Details of Kendall plea deal released

Under the terms of a new plea agreement with prosecutors, Jeremiah Kendall would spend the next two decades behind bars.

Kendall, 40, pleaded guilty for the second time to charges of aggravated assault and tampering with physical evidence in Lincoln County District Court on Jan. 25. The felony counts originate with the brutal assault on his then-girlfriend in 2014.

Kendall’s case was slated to go to trial this month after District Judge Matthew Cuffe indicated he would not follow the recommendations in an earlier plea agreement.

That deal, struck between Kendall and prosecutors in September, would have seen him serve 10 years of a partially suspended 20-year sentence for aggravated assault. A suspended 10-year sentence for the tampering charge would run concurrent.

But before scheduling a sentencing hearing, Cuffe warned “the contemplated sentence is going to be much harsher than in the agreement.”

He gave Kendall a week to think over his options. Kendall chose the trial — until last week. That’s when his attorney announced a change of plea after striking a new deal.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors will recommend a 20-year sentence in Montana State Prison for aggravated assault. For tampering, Kendall will serve a suspended 10-year sentence, but it will run consecutive to his 20 year bid and concurrent to a federal sentence he currently is serving.

Cuffe accepted Kendall’s pleas during the Jan. 25 pretrial conference. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 8.

Kendall is accused of leaving his then-girlfriend hospitalized in 2014 and then attempting to cover up his culpability. Investigators quickly zeroed in on Kendall after doctors at a local medical facility called them in to discuss the woman’s injuries.

Kendall and his mother had brought her to the emergency room, telling medical staff that she had fallen from a table after a night of partying. But doctors examining the victim concluded that her injuries did not match the story, according to court documents.

In an interview, Kendall initially stood by the story. He later amended the tale to include him finding the victim with a shotgun in the bathroom and disarming her.

Doctors treating the victim noted 38 areas of injuries on her body, to include bruising, abrasions and bleeding beneath the skin. A neurologist deemed the wounds inconsistent with a fall, according to court documents.

Authorities also accuse Kendall of accessing the victim’s mobile phone while she was in a medically induced coma. Kendall allegedly deleted text messages and a Facebook Messenger conversation that alluded to past abuse.