A Missoula man who shot his wife in the face with a .22 caliber rifle was sentenced in Missoula District Court on Tuesday, November 12 to 20 years in the Montana State Prison, with 10 years suspended.

Deputy Missoula County Attorney Jason Marks said that Mark Byron Tabish, 55, was charged with attempted mitigated deliberate homicide for the incident that occurred on May 7.

"Mr. Tabish was highly intoxicated and had been on a long drinking binge, and at some point, shot his wife in the face with a .22 caliber rifle," Marks said.

Mrs. Tabish testified at her husband's sentencing in district court.

"She testified this morning that the bullet is still lodged in her neck and will probably not be removed," Marks said. "All things considered, she's a very lucky woman."

According to Marks, Tabish was led from the courtroom to begin his sentence at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

Missoula Deputy County Attorney Jason Marks:

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