Standoff Charges: Marion Man Pleads Not Guilty, Charged After Standoff

A 44-year-old Marion man has pleaded not guilty to charges filed after a 24-hour standoff at a house that left two of his children showing signs of hypothermia.

Thomas G. Lockwood is charged with criminal endangerment and assault with a weapon, both felonies. He was arraigned Thursday in District Court in Flathead County.

Prosecutors say Lockwood had been drinking on Jan. 6 and locked his wife and three children out of the house when she refused to get him more alcohol.

At one point, Lockwood's wife thought he had killed himself. She put two of the three children in a nearby car and approached the house. She told investigators he came out shooting, forcing his wife and the third child to run a half mile in socks to a neighbor's house to call authorities.

Two children, ages 8 and 12, spent about six hours in the car without shoes or coats before authorities were able to retrieve the children.