The Associated Press

HAVRE — A former state lawmaker from Havre is charged with threatening a tenant as she was moving out of a rental property.

The Havre Daily News reports 52-year-old Bob Bergren was charged Monday with assault with a weapon. He did not enter a plea and was appointed a public defender. He remained jailed Tuesday morning.

The tenant called police Sunday to report that Bergren had been harassing her, including standing by the mailbox and yelling at her while holding a shotgun.

Court records say Bergren acknowledged being at the residence with the gun, but said he didn’t aim it at her. The officer said the gun had a round in the chamber.

Bergren told the newspaper he felt threatened and was protecting his property.

Bergren, a Democrat, served in the Legislature from 2003-2010 and was Speaker of the House during the 2009 session.