"I did shove the driver of the van in the arm," he testified.

"I thought he'd just killed my mom and I wanted him to know that," Gutowski added.

His defense attorney argued that although Gutowski admitted to purposely shoving the man, testimony did not prove the victim suffered pain due to the assault.

Judge Wood said he understood Gutowski's concern for his mother, but assaulting the other driver was "not the appropriate reaction."

Schell did not return a call Monday afternoon to comment on whether the outcome of the trial would affect Gutowski's employment.

East Helena Police Chief Dale Aschim had previously said he told the mayor to fire Gutowski. He also told the Independent Record the state council that oversees police certification is reviewing the case. The Montana Public Safety Officer Standard and Training Council could revoke Gutowski's certificates, which would make him ineligible to be a police officer.

When contacted after the verdict, Aschim deferred questions to Schell.