36 year-old James Culver of Darby is being held in the Missoula County Jail, charged with assault with a weapon and partner or family member assault for allegedly beating and kicking his mother and threatening her with a knife.

According to court documents, Culver was already on parole for a prior conviction of assault with a weapon. After Culver was driven by his mother to a doctor's appointment in Missoula, a police officer interviewed her, because she appeared to be in pain. After first saying she suffered a fall, his mother said that her son had threatened her with a knife. She said her son punched and kicked her several times. Outside the Poverello Center, she said Culver grabbed her by the hair and the throat and she wondered why no one called 9-1-1. She told officers she felt that her son was a danger to her and to himself.

At his justice court appearance, Deputy Missoula County Attorney asked Judge Karen Orzech for $50,000 bail.

"There are several serious allegations here, including a knife held to the throat of the victim, several threats as well as several physical attacks," Koepke said. "He is on parole for a previous assault with a weapon conviction for which he received 15 years with 10 suspended out of Ravalli County. In addition to the violence your honor, he was driving and drinking alcohol and taking prescription medication, so we do believe he poses a danger to the community, as well as himself an his mother."

Judge Orzech sat bail at $50,000, and ordered Culver not to discuss the case with his mother. His next court appearance will be July 18.

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