Man accused of pointing rifle at woman

A 23-year-old Missoula man pleaded not guilty last month in Lincoln County District Court to pointing a AR-style rifle at his estranged girlfriend during a dispute in a remote area west of Trego.

Gage Mathew Frisby entered his plea to charges of felony assault with a weapon and misdemeanor partner or family member assault on March 20 in front of District Judge Matt Cuffe.

Frisby was lodged in the county jail at the time, but has since been released on his own recognizance, according to court records. He is not permitted to contact the alleged victim, a 20-year-old woman, and he was ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device.

Frisby’s next hearing is scheduled for June 19.

According to the charging document, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Avila received a report of an assault with a weapon on the afternoon of March 2 at a location on Edna Mountain Road.

When the officer spoke to the woman she said her ex-boyfriend pointed a rifle at her and chambered a round. She said she locked herself inside the house while he placed items inside his vehicle.

Avila reported when he arrived at the home that Frisby dropped a snow shovel and put his arms in the air. He was handcuffed and reported he had a gun in his possession. Eureka Police Department officer Greg Neils removed a loaded and chambered semi-automatic pistol from Frisby’s waistband. Avila reported finding the rifle in Frisby’s vehicle, a gold 1997 Nissan Maxima with Idaho plates.

The woman told Avila the relationship with Frisby was toxic. On the day of the incident, she said Frisby was going to take his stuff and leave. She said Frisby had taken all the guns she had bought and other items they were supposed to be going to court for.

She said she locked the door after he left. Fifteen minutes later when she unlocked the door so she could use the bathroom, Frisby reportedly pushed past her and knocked her down. She said she grabbed a pistol, held it in the air and told him to leave, according to the charging document.

The alleged victim said Frisby removed the rifle from a case, cocked it and pointed it at her. She said Frisby allegedly told her if she didn’t give him her gun he would shoot her. She said he got the gun from her before she sat down to call police. She said at this point, he rushed her and jumped on her while placing his knee on her chest, then neck, making it hard for her to breathe. She also said she didn’t point the gun at Frisby.

She told Avila they had been together for about two years before breaking up two months prior to the incident. She also said they had lived together since last October. She said her arm hurt after falling, but the officer didn’t see marks on her neck or arm.

Frisby declined to speak to the officer and was taken to the Eureka Law Enforcement Center.