Hamilton Man Pleads Not Guilty in Stomping Death

HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) — A 25-year-old Hamilton man has denied allegations that he beat and stomped another man to death in January.

KECI-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1phTVZw ) Richard Michael Sullivan pleaded not guilty Thursday to deliberate homicide in the Jan. 28 death of 25-year-old Robert L. Thaut.

Prosecutors say Sullivan and his wife had been drinking at Thaut's house when Sullivan became angry because Thaut smelled Candace Sullivan's hair.

An autopsy found Thaut suffered blunt-force trauma to his abdomen up to two hours before the 911 call was made and could have survived with prompt medical attention. He also suffered numerous blows to the head and a broken nose.

District Judge James Haynes continued Sullivan's bail at $200,000.