29 year-old Leigh Noel was arrested early Tuesday morning in Seeley Lake for allegedly assaulting his mother, and keeping her from contacting friends to help.

Noel faced Judge Marie Anderson in Missoula Justice Court on Tuesday afternoon charged with his third count of partner or family member assault, which makes the charge a felony, unlawful restraint and destruction of a communications device. Deputy Missoula County Attorney Brittany Santorno asked that Noel be held on $20,000 bail.

"The victim in this case is the defendant's mother," Santorno said. "The defendant took her phone so she was unable to send a Facebook message for help. He then took her computer and her phone and hid them."

Santorno said Noel has a history of assaulting his family members.

"He has two prior confirmed convictions of PFMA, apparently one is against his own grandmother," she said. "It is evident that there is a mental health as well as an alcohol issue. The victim reports that he has previously used methamphetamine. Additionally, the victim, (Noel's mother) believes that jail and or mental health treatment is the best for this defendant's safety."

Noel's mother was in the courtroom to hear the charges against her son, but made no comment.

Judge Anderson set bail at $20,000 and ordered Noel to appear again on September 28.

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