Supreme court upholds ruling in assault case

October 10, 2011

Montana: The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a decision which denied the accused his motion to withdraw a guilty plea. The case was held in the Flathead District Court and presided over by Judge Ted Lympus.

On Oct. 16, 2008, Michael Farrell was charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. He was accused of punching Leslie Whitney in the face several times while they were camping. The victim suffered from broken false teeth and swelling and discoloration in the face.

Farrell originally agreed to a plea bargain in which he pleaded no contest to criminal endangerment but later made to withdraw his plea under the argument that there were inaccuracies in several of Leslie Whitney’s statements which undermined her credibility.