Libby man accused of witness tampering

A 54-year-old Libby man, Steven Wayne Kelley is facing charges of tampering with witnesses and Informants, both felonies, after alcohol was provided to multiple juveniles and an assault occurred to another individual.

Kelley appeared in Lincoln County District Court April 28 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. His next hearing in the case is set for June 2.

Kelley also had a hearing April 28 on a petition to revoke relating to a 2024 conviction in a child endangerment case. Kelley pleaded guilty in August 2024 and received a 5-year suspended sentence oct. 21, 2024. Part of the conditions of his release were he not consume or possess alcohol, illegal drugs and marijuana.

County Attorney Marcia Boris asserted Kelley violated three conditions, including not remaining law-abiding, failure to get substance abuse evaluation and completing a parenting class. Kelley made no admissions.

Kelley's public defender, Maury Solomon, sought to have the revocation hearing after June 2. Court records indicate it will June 10.

According to the charging document in the most recent case, on March 31, an alleged assault victim informed Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies that Kelley had shown up to the residence to discuss the incident on Wednesday, March 26, which involved multiple juveniles, alcohol consumption and an assault on the victim.

Kelley is currently a suspect in the case as he and others allegedly provided juveniles with alcohol. Kelley is already on probation.

Deputies spoke with the victim, who said Kelley talked with him at his residence and said he was not aware of the assault as he was sleeping and his wife purchased the alcohol, and other alcohol was retrieved from his vehicle without permission. 

According to the victim, Kelley was adamant about not returning to prison. The victim said they did not believe Kelley’s story. 

According to court documents, another witness from the incident was also contacted to dispute the facts. The witness said he felt the contact was inappropriate and they feared Kelley or his associates could cause harm to the witness if he cooperated with deputies.

The witness said that Kelley told him the same story about his wife purchasing the alcohol and that he was asleep.

Kelley also called the authorities and said someone else had retrieved the alcohol. Kelley’s wife also called and said she purchased the alcohol.

According to court documents, deputies believed these actions were illegal due to Kelley specifically contacting the victim and a witness, while making different statements compared to them, and shifting blame to someone else. 

Other people at the incident said they were prevented by the Kelleys from contacting law enforcement. Kelley’s wife told authorities they did that because “we didn’t want to get in trouble.”

Kelley was arrested and released on $25,000 bond.

A conviction for witness tampering could result in a 10-year term in the Montana State Prison.