A 30-year-old Flathead Valley man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he killed his father and brother before holding multiple people hostage east of Kalispell.
Justin R. Calbick faces two counts of deliberate homicide and four other felonies, including rape and kidnapping, which combined carry a maximum sentence of 391 years in prison.
Appearing before Flathead District Court Judge Stewart Stadler, Calbick said little other than acknowledging that he understood the charges filed against him. His counsel said Calbick is undergoing a mental health evaluation, and reserved the right to amend the not-guilty plea at a later date.
Stadler scheduled an omnibus hearing for April 14.
Calbick was arrested on Jan. 13 and charged with raping and assaulting his estranged wife, according to court documents. Bond was originally set at $50,000 by the District Court, but the Justice Court released Calbick on his own recognizance.
Calbick was served a temporary restraining order on Jan. 14, barring him from entering his wife’s Mennonite Church Road home, east of Kalispell. On Jan. 28, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department received a 1 a.m. call reporting that Calbick was at his wife’s home armed with a rifle and had bound several people with duct tape.
Court records say Calbick bound the hands and feet of three adults, including his wife, for three hours. There were also three children at the residence. The hostages were able to convince Calbick to turn over the rifle and let his wife’s friend go on the premise that she would not contact authorities.
The woman’s husband called 911 when she got home and responding officers found Calbick sitting on the couch unarmed and arrested him without incident.
Later that afternoon, the sheriff’s department conducted a welfare check on the residence of Calbick’s father, Donald, and Calbick’s brother, Stacey, requested by the ex-wife of one of the men. Officers found Donald Calbick’s body in the kitchen – court records say it appeared he had been killed by a single gunshot to the head. Stacey Calbick was found in a shop on the property, apparently also killed by a single gunshot wound to the head.
When questioned, Calbick “admitted shooting both individuals on the 27th, shortly before the events” at his wife’s home, according to court documents.
Calbick is being charged with two counts of deliberate homicide, sexual intercourse without consent, kidnapping, assault with a weapon, aggravated burglary and partner assault.