(GREAT FALLS) Michael Echeverria was sentenced on Monday in Great Falls to 20 years in prison for assaulting a woman in September of 2017.
In September 2018, Echeverria pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and criminal mischief; he entered a no-contest plea to a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
The victim’s family had asked the judge to sentence Echeverria to 40 years in prison due to the severity of the assault.
The defense requested Echeverria be given a probationary sentence with credit for 460 days of time served with no additional jail time.
He was also ordered to pay restitution of just over $10,500.
(SEPTEMBER 8, 2017) Michael Echeverria made his initial court appearance in Great Falls on Friday, charged with several felonies for reportedly assaulting a woman and stealing her purse at the Best Western Heritage Inn in Great Falls.
According to court documents, a police officer was called to the hotel about a reported disturbance. When the officer arrived, he found Echeverria in a hallway – already handcuffed by another officer, and with a purse strapped over his shoulder.
After entering the hotel room, the officer found a woman naked on the floor and covered in blood. The woman had a laceration near her right temple. There was blood spattered on the floor, walls, and furniture of the room.
The documents state that after the woman was taken to the hospital, she reported having been in a relationship with Echeverria for four years and being separated for about the last six weeks.
The woman and Echeverria argued, which escalated into a physical fight. The documents state that Echeverria pulled the woman from the bed and hit her with his fists. As she tried to leave the room, he knocked her down and hit her stomach, chest, face, and arms.
Witnesses in neighboring rooms reported hearing violent noises, screaming, profanity, and furniture breaking. Court documents state that the victim has “multiple injuries all over her body.”
Authorities also learned that Echeverria had made threatening phone calls to the woman’s family, and the woman could be heard screaming in the background.
Court documents also state that the victim’s sister received text messages from the victim’s phone which stated: “your scum (sic),” “death to all white scum,” and “death to your children.”
Echeverria has been charged with three felonies including aggravated kidnapping, assault with a weapon, and robbery, as well as misdemeanor partner/family member assault, misdemeanor theft, and misdemeanor “privacy in communications” charge.
Prosecutors requested that bond for Echeverria be set at $150,000.
