<p>HELENA, Mont. — A Montana man cited for disorderly conduct for yelling at his neighbor this month in a dispute over political flags has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was fined $100, the <a href="https://helenair.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/helena-man-pleads-guilty-in-dispute-over-trump-biden-flags/article_2aa9f908-7bf5-5f5c-8dc4-53ff8f5ec613.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">Independent Record </a> reported.</p>
<p>Michael Challans of Helena said he apologized to his neighbor, Tim Mielke, before Monday’s hearing in Helena Municipal Court.</p>
<p>Challans, 43, used profanities and anti-gay slurs while yelling at Mielke as he arrived at his house on March 1. The minute-long encounter was captured on Mielke’s doorbell camera and he posted it to social media.</p>
<p>“I used the wrong words,” Challans said. “I feel horrible for what I said to him. Nobody deserves that.”</p>
<p>Mielke acknowledged Challans’ apology.</p>
<p>“It seems the issue is resolved and that is fantastic,” Mielke said Monday.</p>
<p>Mielke said earlier that in response to his neighbors’ continued flying of pro-Donald Trump and anti-Joe Biden flags four months after the election, he put up a flag that read: “TRUMP LOST LOL"</p>
<p>The doorbell video shows Mielke arriving at his house and a man across the street calling out to him to remove his flag and telling Mielke he moved into the wrong neighborhood.</p>
<p>Challans originally questioned authorities’ decision to cite him. </p>
<p>“I don’t see how I could get a ticket,” Challans said on March 10. “How could anyone possibly get a ticket for using words?"</p>
<p>Since the story was reported, Challans said he has received threats on social media, including some to burn down his house.</p>
<p>“What is the difference of what I did to them and burning my house down to make me pay in some kind of way?" Challans asked a reporter before his hearing. “It’s an outrageous double standard.”</p>
