Thief gets probation as sentence

The Daily Inter Lake

A man convicted of stealing $13,000 in cash from a Patrick Creek Road home was ordered Thursday in Flathead County District Court to serve two concurrent six-year deferred sentences.

Cody Alan Hackworthy, 22, will spend those six years on probation.

Hackworthy pleaded guilty in February to felony theft and issuing bad checks. In exchange for Hackworthy's guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a burglary charge.

After his arrest, Hackworthy returned all but $200 of the stolen money, Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said.

Investigators believe the Patrick Creek Road burglary occurred between 8 a.m. Nov. 7 and 9 a.m. Nov. 9. Hackworthy broke into the home, which belongs to his girlfriend's parents, and stole the money from a safe. Authorities said 42 prescription barbiturates also were taken.

Hackworthy was arrested Nov. 9 in Evergreen soon after his description was broadcast to law enforcement. He later was released on house arrest.

He found himself back in jail on Jan. 9 after crashing his car into a tree on Sunnyside Drive while driving under the influence of alcohol, without insurance, and on a suspended license. After the collision, Hackworthy was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center with a head injury.

He was again released in February on house arrest.

As part of the plea bargain, Hackworthy also admitted to writing more than $1,400 in bad checks.