BOZEMAN – Michael Bentley, 39, appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court Friday, charged with criminal endangerment. His bail was set at $75,000.
According to court documents, a disturbance with a weapon on Clarkston Road was reported to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.
The incident reportedly involved Bentley, a woman, and another man. All three were transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center after the incident to be interviewed by law enforcement.
Court documents said the woman drove to the home on Clarkston Road and began arguing with the other man, who lives at the residence. The man allegedly damaged the woman’s car with a baseball bat, after which she drove to Bentley’s house.
The man had walked up a hill behind his house to get enough cell coverage to call 911 and reportedly saw Bentley arrive and begin to circle the residence in his vehicle. The man said the vehicle stopped after a few minutes, after which he heard several gunshots and someone screaming something at the house.
The man identified the voice as Bentley’s, according to court documents, as the two had been friends in the past. Bentley then reportedly left, and the man called 911 from the landline at a neighbor’s house.
During his interview at the detention center, Bentley allegedly admitted that he fired the gun at the man’s house.
In court Friday, state prosecutors argued that if the man had been home, the gunshots could have easily hit and killed him.
Bentley’s next court date is set for July 5 at 8 a.m.
