Homeless Kalispell Man with Antifa Ties Confesses to Flathead Courthouse Bomb Threat

MISSOULA — A homeless man with connections to Kalispell has admitted to threatening to blow up the Flathead County courthouse, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced Tuesday.

Kermit “Ty” Poulson, 46, pleaded guilty to interstate communication of a threat to damage property by means of fire or explosive. This charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided over the hearing. District Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine the sentence on September 18, 2025, after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Poulson remains in detention until his sentencing.

According to court documents, the government alleged that on April 25, 2023, an attorney in Flathead County, Montana, received a threatening email from a Gmail account identified as [email protected].

The email stated that Poulson “doesn’t GIVE A [EXPLETIVE] ABOUT COPS, PRISON, anything” and that “ANTIFA IS GOING TO [EXPLETIVE] YOUR WORLD” while accusing the recipient of being a RACIST [EXPLETIVE] and further threatened the attorney with Molotov cocktails.

The attorney, who had previously represented Poulson, reported the email to the FBI, recalling Poulson’s history of making threats.

FBI investigations revealed that the Gmail account was linked to another account, [email protected], registered under Poulson’s name. Records indicated Poulson was previously investigated and convicted by the FBI in Portland, Oregon, for threatening to set the Portland Mayor’s house on fire using Molotov cocktails in 2018. In that instance, Poulson claimed to have connections to Antifa.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes is leading the prosecution of Poulson’s case, which is based on investigations conducted by the FBI.

Criminal records checks show Poulson was previously the subject of an FBI investigation in Portland, Oregon. In that case, he was investigated, arrested, and convicted of threatening to set the Portland Mayor’s house on fire with Molotov cocktails. He also claimed in that case that he had ties to Antifa.

Sentencing will take into account various legal guidelines as well as Poulson’s history, which may influence the length of his sentence.

The public awaits final judgment, which could see Poulson sentenced to a decade in prison with significant fines and subsequent supervised release.

“The seriousness of the charges highlights the extensive judicial process involved in such cases,” commented U.S. Attorney Alme.