Libby man accused of assaulting jail guard, burglary

A Libby man is accused of burglarizing a home and assaulting a detention officer during two separate incidents in the last month.

Steven Herbert Harsh, 64, faces one felony count of burglary, one felony count of assaulting a peace officer and a felony count of attempted escape.

The alleged burglary happened sometime in the middle of December 2024. He was taken into custody and subsequently accused of assault following a Dec. 31 incident in the jail.

Harsh was arraigned on the burglary charge Jan. 13 and pleaded not guilty. He posted $45,000 bail on Jan. 21.

On Jan. 24, Harsh posted $75,000 bail on the assault charge. He was scheduled to be arraigned on the assault Jan. 27, but he didn’t show up. His public defender, Scott B. Johnson, asked for and got a continuance after saying there was some confusion about the court date.

But Harsh failed to show for his Feb. 3 court date and District Judge Matt Cuffe revoked his release and told Deputy County Attorney Lauren O’Neill to issue a $50,000 bench warrant for his arrest.

Johnson said he hadn’t spoke to Harsh, but had talked to family members in Ohio. They said they would deliver the message.

Harsh was taken into custody sometime after Feb. 3 was arraigned Feb. 10 when he pleaded not guilty to assault on a peace officer and attempted escape.

District Judge Matt Cuffe scheduled Harsh's next court date for March 10.

In the burglary case, county deputies Bo Pitman and Clint Heintz investigated the incident on Dec. 16-17 at a residence on Trego Road. Pitman said shoe and tire tracks from another burglary investigation the week before matched those believed to be Harsh’s.

Pitman said Harsh used either a chair or table on the front porch to break out a bedroom window and then ransacked the house.

Pitman said Harsh may have spent several nights in the house. He also reported the house was extremely cold inside and a flat screen TV was cracked.

Deputy Heintz spoke to a person who said no one was supposed to be at the house. He removed a piece of broken glass where both deputies saw a partial finger print. A partially consumed can of root beer was also collected as well as blood swabs from smears on the wall.

After Harsh was taken into custody the first time, he was accused of striking and kicking a detention officer during a Dec. 31, 2024, incident.

When county deputy Tucker Winn arrived at the jail, he saw two detention officers standing over Harsh. One guard helped Harsh to his feet and placed him in a single-occupant cell.

An ambulance was called to determine the extent of Harsh’s head injury. Later that morning, Winn watched camera footage in the jail of the incident between the officers and Harsh.

He reported seeing Harsh speaking with one guard, then attempting to close the cell door. Harsh allegedly pushed the door open and struck one of the guards with his hands. The guard then got control of Harsh and took him to the ground while the accused allegedly kicked the guard.

The other guard then pointed his Taser at Harsh and the incident ended.

After Harsh was taken to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center for his head to evaluated, he was deemed fit for return to the jail.

While two detention officers were escorting Harsh to a transport vehicle, the defendant slammed an open door shut and tried to run. But one of the officers pinned Harsh to the side of the vehicle and placed him inside.

Later that day, deputy Winn spoke to the guard who was allegedly struck by Harsh. The guard said Harsh wanted to use the restroom. The guard told Harsh to use the restroom in his cell. Harsh called the guard a profanity and asked him to deliver a letter to his attorney. The guard tried to shut the cell door, but Harsh prevented it before approaching and striking the guard in the head. The guard took Harsh to the ground, the other guard arrived and shut the cell door where other inmates were being held.

He then pointed a Taser at Harsh, the inmate complied with the officer’s commands and was placed back in the cell.

The guard who was struck said he was in fear of being seriously injured during the attack.

A conviction for felony burglary may result in a 20-year term in the Montana State Prison.