Homeless Man Pleads Guilty to Assault in Missoula

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 21-year-old homeless man has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for his role in the death of a transient whose body was recovered from the Clark Fork River last August.

Kenneth Damien Hickman entered his plea Thursday before District Judge John Larson, who scheduled sentencing for June 18. Hickman remains jailed with his bail set at $150,000.

Hickman was charged in the death of Berry "Jack" Gilbert, who was beaten, stomped, tortured and shot before being thrown into the river.

Hickman acknowledged hitting Gilbert, but denied burning him or cutting gang symbols into his flesh before he was shot.

Co-defendant Kevin Lino has pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide in Gilbert's death. He remains jailed with his bail set at $250,000.