Man involved in shooting put on probation

SANDPOINT — A Clark Fork man imprisoned for unleashing a shotgun blast on a carload of people during a dispute last year was released onto probation on Friday.

Larry Dean Flanigan Jr. was placed on probation for five years, according to court documents.

Flanigan, 20, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery and three counts of aggravated assault after opening fire on the Subaru outside his residence north of Clark Fork in December 2011.

Two people in the vehicle were injured by the gunfire, which narrowly missed three other occupants. Pellets from the blast came with a 16th of an inch of killing one of the vehicle’s occupants, according to court documents.

Bad blood between Flanigan and some of the occupants of the vehicle precipitated the shooting.

The group of teens and young adults drove to Flanigan’s residence, where at least one of them planned to fight the defendant.

Flanigan, however, exited his trailer with a shotgun and opened fire as the vehicle drove away.

In a plea agreement with the state, Flanigan pleaded to one of the felony battery counts. First District Judge Steve Verby imposed a two- to five-year prison term in May, but retained jurisdiction over the defendant.

When the court retains jurisdiction, also known as a rider, a defendant serves up to a year in a medium-security prison. The court later decides if the defendant should be released onto probation or ordered to serve out the underlying prison term.