Kalispell Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Burglary After Alleged Ax Attack on Husband

On May 23, Sophia Maria Owen, 39, pleaded not guilty to a felony burglary charge at Flathead County District Court. Judge Heidi Ulbricht presided over her arraignment and set an omnibus hearing for Aug. 14 and a pretrial conference for Oct. 2. Owen, initially held in the county jail, was able to post a $40,000 bond on May 30.

What happened to the Kalispell woman?

According to court documents, Owen arrived at an Airport Road home in the evening hours of May 19 armed with a maul ax. She allegedly attempted to break down the door with the ax, prompting one of the residents to investigate the commotion after being alerted by barking dogs.

Meanwhile, Owen's husband, who was inside the home at the time, informed authorities that she was trying to reach him. Although she broke the glass of an interior door, he managed to hold it shut. Allegedly, Owen proceeded to hit him through the broken door with a closed fist, resulting in injuries including a loose tooth, inflamed eye, and swollen cheek.

Owen left the scene before the arrival of deputies from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. Later, she was apprehended at a local bar, where authorities noticed a shard of glass in her hair and a cut on her foot, consistent with an injury from broken glass.

According to court documents, Owen admitted to forcefully entering the home when her husband did not respond to her, stating that she "busted it down."