Charges keep piling up against vehicle burglar

A 24-year-old man already convicted of felony burglary pleaded not guilty to a new felony charge of distributing drugs during Flathead District Court on Thursday.

That’s on top of another felony theft charge pending against Jan Vondrich for allegedly breaking into his own vehicle in a county impound lot.

Vondrich is accused of selling methamphetamine to an informant on Oct. 26, 2011, the same day he helped steal televisions, DVD players and stereo equipment from Gardner’s RV and Trailer Center.

His sentencing for the burglary at Gardner’s, originally scheduled for March 29, has been continued after he allegedly broke into the county impound lot and into his vehicle on March 19.

Flathead County deputies learned of the planned theft earlier in the day and arrested him as he tried to leave the lot. Among the items he tried to steal back from his car were a set of stolen gaming machine keys. Deputies had replaced the keys with a set of blanks if he for any reason was able to escape.

He was released on his own recognizance at the time of the theft attempt.

According to court documents, Vondrich has an extensive criminal history including multiple misdemeanor drug charges, possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor theft, numerous traffic violations and an out-of-state warrant for absconding from supervision while on probation in Oregon.

Vondrich is facing up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $50,000 on the burglary conviction, and between one year and life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 on the drug charge.

Charges have not yet been filed in the theft case.

He currently is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center on a $20,000 bond.