A Flathead County man accused of shooting two people at a bar in Marion earlier this summer has pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal endangerment.
Leif Lee entered the plea in Flathead County District Court on Sept. 4, the same day he signed a deal wherein he would enter a guilty plea to two amended charges of criminal endangerment.
According to court documents, Lee was at the Rail Line Tavern in Marion early in the morning of June 14. According to witnesses, after last call Lee got into an altercation in the parking lot with a woman.
During the altercation, another man tried to intervene and Lee took out a gun. The man tried to grab the gun but Lee allegedly fired the weapon twice. One bullet struck the man in the arm and hand and another struck the woman in the arm. Lee then fled on his motorcycle.
The woman received serious injuries in the shooting and was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center before being transported to Seattle for additional surgery.
The following day, Lee called the police and admitted to firing his gun at the bar early on June 14. Lee was apprehended later that week.
Lee had initially pleaded not guilty to felony charges with assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment. In the plea agreement, it states prosecutors would argue for two consecutive 15 year suspended sentences to the Montana State Prison. Lee’s attorney, Thane Johnson, will argue for two concurrent 6-year deferred sentences.
Lee will appear in court again for sentencing on Oct. 29.