Alberton man charged in stabbing case

Longtime Alberton resident Earl James Perrine was arrested last week and charged with allegedly stabbing a man and his son near the Wye.

Perrine previously was charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs in Mineral County for alleged possession of methamphetamine. In January, deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant and he drove away.

When he was caught, they found a pastic bag of meth he was carrying, plus meth in his vehicle.

He pleaded guilty to that charge on Feb. 21 under a plea agreement that called for a three-year, fully suspended sentence consecutive to another felony drug sentence. He posted a $5,000 bail Feb. 22 and was awaiting an April 4 sentencing.

On Friday, March 3, Missoula sheriff’s deputies were called to a home at Deschamps Lane where Perrine had refused to leave, according to reports. As an officer approached the house, he heard a man scream and saw Perrine approach him. Another man at the house said to stop Perrine because he had stabbed his son.

Perrine allegedly ran away and refused to stop. A second deputy released his K-9, Loki, and Perrine was apprehended. According to the stabbing victim and his father, they had gone to the house because another couple had asked them to because Perrine was acting suspiciously.

Perrine reportedly had gotten into a vehicle on the property and the father and son tackled him. Perrine swiped at them with a knife and cut the father on his finger and jacket and stabbed the son.

Perrine was charged with two felony counts of assault with a weapon and misdemeanor trespassing.

He is now being held in Missoula County on $100,000 bail. On March 22, there will be a hearing in Mineral County for a petition to revoke his suspended sentence.

If he posts bond in Missoula, he will be transferred to Mineral County.