The Kalispell man accused of shooting his wife multiple times on Aug. 19 pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.
Steven Foley, 39, appeared in Flathead County District Court on Sept. 5 to deny the charge of attempted deliberate homicide. As in his initial court appearance, Foley again looked shaken by the proceedings, holding his head in his hands and wiping his eyes.
The prosecution also made a point of informing the judge that the victim’s family was in the courtroom to watch the proceeding.
According to charging documents in this case, 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.
According to reports from Kalispell police, by the time officers found the victim, Foley had already 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 .22-caliber gun from his wife, walking into the living room where she was, and the pulled the gun out and shot her, repeatedly.
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.
Foley remains in the Flathead County Detention Center, with bail set at $150,000. 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.
His pre-trial conference is scheduled for Oct. 2, and a trial tentatively scheduled in November.