At about 10 a.m., Baldauf went upstairs and confronted his former stepfather about the Internet service shut down. That escalated into a verbal argument which allegedly led to a physical assault.

Court records said Baldauf tackled the 74-year-old man and put his arm around his neck. The stepfather later told officers that Baldauf was yelling at him, but said he wasn’t making much sense.

Baldauf then reached over and pulled a .44 magnum revolver that was in a holster by the stepfather’s bed. Baldauf then backed away while pointing the pistol at the elderly man who was still on the floor.

Court records said Baldauf told his former stepfather he was going to shoot.

The ex-stepfather later told officers he was scared because he knows “how big of a hole that gun makes,” the records said. He continued lying on the floor while trying to be quiet.

Baldauf yelled for his mother, who arrived shortly from the bedroom next door. When the older man attempted to make a phone call for help, Baldauf allegedly said he’d shoot if the stepfather “called the cops.”

His mother eventually persuaded him to leave the bedroom and the gun behind.

Baldauf then used his mother’s telephone to call 911 to report he had assaulted his former stepfather, court records said.

Baldauf told officers that the older man started pushing him while placing Baldauf’s hand on the pistol. Baldauf said that caused him to “bear hug” his former stepfather and take him to floor, court records said.

When he did grab the handgun, Baldauf said it was a protective move.

The handgun was found to be fully loaded with hollow-point ammunition.

Bailey set Baldauf’s bail at $30,000.

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Editor Perry Backus can be reached at 363-3300 or editor@ravallirepublic.com.

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mickey m. wrote on Feb 9, 2010 5:49 PM:

" Can I be the WiZaRd'S apprentice? "

Julius wrote on Feb 7, 2010 7:08 PM:

" to 35 years...thanks for bringing up the gun problem! Got rid of my 44 magnum and pipe bombs and replaced it with a double barrel shotgun! Next time you hear about a violent repeat felon going to jail, you just take him a flower and tell him that you're there for him. In fact, pay his bond and reform him while he lives with you. Hope and Change starts with each of us. Remember now...Yes We Can! "

Howard wrote on Feb 7, 2010 11:41 AM:

" The question of offenders has come up, and how convicted offenders may or may not be as threat to a family, or raising children. I have been forced, for employment reasons, to live away from the Bitterroot Valley, I currently live in a county east of the divide. In my small town, there are no registered violent or sexual offenders, nor is there any in a 10 mile radius. There are only 4 sexual offenders, and only 7 violent offenders (2 are female) in the entire county. However, those facts alone do not make this a child-raising paradise. I would love to be able to raise my children in the Bitterroot. "

WiZaRd Of HaMiLtOn - PsYcHeDeLiC wrote on Feb 6, 2010 11:52 PM:

" If everybody here's expecting me to
conform to their own ideological egos,
it ain't happenin', 'cause I don't conform to ideology.

And Libertarian, I'm not here to run
other people's lives or whatever....

I do what I do naturally
(other than grow my hair long,
play rock-n-roll, and predict the future):
Turn On
Tune In
Drop Out
(and get wasted) "

35 years wrote on Feb 6, 2010 11:08 PM:

" Do any of you gun patriots see any problem with having a loaded 44 magnum with hollow point bullets laying around the house? The problem you'll no doubt point out isn't the gun, or the bag of anthrax, or the live hand grenade, its that people are bad and irresponsible. We need to change all the people and not take away anyone's God-given right to own a pipe bomb. Right..right?? After all how are we going to protect ourselves from Obama's communist government. "

Floyd wrote on Feb 6, 2010 1:06 PM:

" Look on the Montana Department of Justice Sexual or Violent Offender Website, if you can find an area that's free of this, let us know. "

kim wrote on Feb 5, 2010 10:04 PM:

" Victor sure does have a horrible crime rate anymore.My children live right down the street from a violent sex affender .Can't they move somewhere else were they are not allowed to be near children? Children are not safe anywhere. "

Libertarian wrote on Feb 5, 2010 10:00 PM:

" Wizard...folks will be civil when people quit trying to run other people's lives. Leave them and their property alone. Show some respect. Lawlessness is coming true because of one domestic violence episode? Guess the sky is falling too, huh? My Prediction: Civil Discourse means leaving other peole alone and minding your own business! "

Wow wrote on Feb 5, 2010 8:02 PM:

" So Concerned Citizen where is this wonderous town that has absolutely no crime what so ever. Things happen all over the place..if you don't like it so much around here, leave. "

Concerned Citizen wrote on Feb 5, 2010 11:58 AM:

" Typical for the town of Victor. Must start teaching how to get along in this world and start teaching the proper Morals and Ethics. This starts with family folks. Wake up. "

Genius wrote on Feb 5, 2010 10:19 AM:

" WiZaRd, Chill dude. You're not a prophet. These things have happened for time immomorial, and will continue to happen.

For you to say things like this will occur, and then have them occur, does not make you a prophet.

When a big, red rooster gets up before the sun, stands up on a fence, throws his head back and crows at the top of his lungs, he thinks he has caused the sun to come up.

Next time you start prophesying, WiZaRd, think about The Rooster. "

HUTCH wrote on Feb 5, 2010 9:58 AM:

" I PREDICT THE EARTH WILL MAKE A COMPLETE REVOLUTION AROUND THE SUN THIS YEAR. "

Bill wrote on Feb 5, 2010 7:47 AM:

" Come on WiZard: Predicting a domestic disturbance is hardly noteworthy. I predict the light that is red will turn green...A grown man living with mommy and daddy is in fact insanity. I predict: If our Judicial/Criminal Justice system would simply enforce the current laws, we would have far less crime. "

WiZaRd Of HaMiLtOn wrote on Feb 5, 2010 12:37 AM:

" Hmmmmm....
Just like in many of my posts
in the blogs before
(especially on the lack of civil discourse),
I've forewarned that this type of insanity would occur at some point in time if folks here didn't mellow out
and lighten up.
And now, what I have foretold of this type of (increasing) lawlessness,
is coming true.

Perhaps some of these people here
would wake up, dispense with their egos, and take my prophecies
seriously, instead of
"sweeping it under the rug"
or dismiss my prediction(s) as "nonsense". "

Phil wrote on Feb 4, 2010 9:46 PM:

" Concerned Citizen- Is Victor on your list of 'only in' towns? "

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