Columbia Falls man sentenced for vandalism

The Daily Inter Lake

A 46-year-old Columbia Falls man has been sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to pay $1,171 in restitution after vandalizing property in the Flathead National Forest.

Ronald Yurczak was sentenced Thursday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch during a federal court session in Missoula.

Yurczak previously had pleaded guilty to willfully damaging U.S. property.

According to a offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliot, Yurczak was cited by a Forest Service officer on July 16, 2010, for damaging signs and latrines in and around the Lost Johnny Point campground on Hungry Horse Reservoir.

He admitted using a black permanent marker to write on Forest Service property, according to the offer of proof.