The Kalispell man accused of shooting his wife multiple times on Aug. 19 made his initial appearance Wednesday in Flathead County Justice Court.
Steven Michael Foley, 39, appeared before Justice of the Peace Dan Wilson and is charged with attempted deliberate homicide. Foley cried through most of the brief hearing, shaking his head as he stared at the papers laying out the charge against him.
Wilson said he had weighted the risk Foley posed to the community when considering bail, and decided to keep the bail amount at $150,000.
Charging documents say Foley’s ex-wife called 911 to report that Foley had called and told her that “he had just shot his current wife” three times at a Sixth Avenue West residence in Kalispell.
Responding personnel found the victim and transported her to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where she was immediately taken into surgery and listed under critical condition.
According to reports from Kalispell police, officers found the woman outside the house with several gunshot wounds, and Foley had fled the premises.
Officers found him several blocks away, and took him to the police station. Court documents say that after waiving his rights, Foley told investigators that he had concealed the gun from his wife, walking into the living room where she was, and the pulled the gun out and shot her, repeatedly.
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Steven Foley – courtesy of the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office |
Attempted deliberate homicide carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with maximum possibilities of life in prison or death. The use of a firearm could add a minimum of two years to a maximum of 10 years to a sentence.
If he is released on bail, Foley will have to follow specific conditions of release, including restrictions against alcohol and restrictions against any contact with the victim or any witnesses in this case.
Foley is scheduled for an arraignment hearing in Flathead County District Court on Sept. 5, during which he will enter a plea to the charge against him.