Man pleads not guilty to criminal endangerment

David Walter Marriott appeared before Judge John Mercer on Friday, entering a not guilty plea to a felony charge of criminal endangerment. Judge Mercer set this matter for a jury trial on May 5, 2025.

As alleged in the charging documents, on the evening of November 13, Deputy Tim Kelly was notified by Sanders County Dispatch of a report of shots fired outside the Dixon Bar, with both the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office and CSKT Tribal officers being dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, Kelly spoke with the bartender, who stated that Marriott had been in the bar and drinking since about 5 pm. Marriott had ended up having a disagreement with another bar patron, which resulted in the two men wrestling on the bar floor. After the altercation, Marriott then allegedly went outside and fired two rounds from a handgun, which was later taken from Marriott by the bartender. A woman, who lives next to the Dixon Bar, came over and spoke with officers. She stated that she witnessed Marriott in front of the bar, laying on the white line on the side of Highway 200, and told him to “get in his truck and sleep it off” following the shots fired. The bartender advised that Marriott had three other firearms in his truck and provided the handgun taken from Marriott to officers, who secured it. Marriott was located just down the road outside the Cantina Bar and taken into custody.

Pursuant to a plea agreement reached between the parties, Billy James Rich pleaded guilty to one felony count of strangulation of a partner or family member. Rich was granted an own recognizance release, with the restrictions that he follow the conditions of release, cooperate with probation and parole, and appear for his sentencing hearing, which was set for February 4, 2025.