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Flathead County Man Accused of Kidnapping Pleads Guilty to Criminal Endangerment

Jason Tad Pennington took woman at gunpoint, restrained her with zip ties in June

By Justin Franz

A Flathead County man accused of kidnapping and tying up a woman at gunpoint has pleaded guilty to charges of felony criminal endangerment and theft.

Jason Tad Pennington, 39, appeared in Flathead County District Court on Oct. 24 at a change of plea hearing. He will be sentenced on Dec. 22.

According to court records, Pennington was at the victim’s home in Flathead County when he got angry and threatened to kill her and others in June. Pennington allegedly used zip ties to restrain the woman’s ankles and wrists and drove her into Kalispell with her vehicle. The woman also told police that at one point, Pennington strangled her and pointed a gun at her head.

Once they arrived in Kalispell, Pennington told the woman if she tried to escape he would shoot her.

Eventually, Pennington removed the zip ties from the woman’s wrists and ankles.

The woman reported Pennington to police and he was arrested at her home two days later. However, when the sheriff’s deputy arrived at the Flathead County Detention Center, Pennington tried to escape on foot. Officers quickly restrained him.

A month after being charged with kidnapping and assault with a weapon, Pennington was also charged with theft following an unrelated incident wherein the defendant had stolen a man’s four-wheeler. Pennington pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

On Oct. 21, Pennington signed a deal agreeing to plead guilty to an amended charge of criminal endangerment and theft. The state will recommend a 20-year sentence to the Department of Corrections with 15 years suspended. The defendant will argue for a 15 year DOC commitment with 10 years suspended. The defendant will also ask that he be screened for boot camp.