Three are sentenced in burglary

Three people involved in a burglary on Spring Hill Road were sentenced Thursday during one massive, combined hearing in Flathead District Court.

Jeffrey Weldele, 30, Whitefish, his girlfriend Ashley Ekern, 27, Whitefish, and Aaron Zelenik, 33, Kalispell, along with Kandice Tellegen, 26, Kalispell, stole 57 guns and several other items valued at $50,380 from the Spring Hill Road home of Tim Nielson while he was on a trip between Dec. 19, 2011 and Jan. 13, 2012.

The firearms were part of Nielson’s private collection, gathered during his former work as a gun dealer and 31-year career in law enforcement. Among the most rare items stolen was a U.S. Army revolver that’s more than 100 years old.

During his testimony, Nielson mused on the difference between his years of working with victims as a law enforcement officer and being one himself. He said the experience broke his heart.

Nielson had simple words for the perpetrators when given an opportunity to address them.

“I hope you never get involved in criminal activity again,” he said. “I would like to get paid back for what you’ve done to me. The monetary value is really nothing (compared) to the emotional value. Even now, after sentencing, if you could assist me in getting any of my property back I would greatly appreciate it.”

Tellegen, the only one who did not plead guilty but was instead convicted following a trial, was supposed to be sentenced with the other three but failed to appear for the hearing. According to her attorney, Tellegen was at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where she may have been in the early stages of giving birth.

She faces up to 30 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000 for her convictions of felony burglary and theft. Her sentencing was rescheduled to Tuesday.

Weldele was sentenced to 10 years in the Montana State Prison and a further 10 years suspended for taking part in the Spring Hill Road burglary as well as the burglary of a home on North Ashley Lake Road on Jan. 26. Ekern also participated in the second burglary along with Brandon Stanfield, 30, Kalispell, and Nathan Bayreuther, 24, Kalispell.

Weldele’s stiff sentence was levied as a result of an extensive criminal history as a juvenile and as an adult, including several felony convictions.

Although Weldele claimed he was unaware at the time of the first burglary that the home belonged to Nielson, he admitted he knew Nielson, who served as his probation officer in 2005.

In addition to his sentence, he was ordered to pay a $400 public defender fee and a $500 fine.

Ekern, the only defendant with no prior criminal history, was sentenced to five years in jail and five years suspended for her participation in both burglaries. Her incarceration was ordered to be served — if possible — at the Elkhorn Treatment Center, a Montana Department of Corrections alternative incarceration facility for women.

Ekern also was ordered to pay a $400 public defender fee and a $500 fine.

Zelenik was sentenced to five years in a Montana Department of Corrections facility and 12 years suspended for his participation in the first burglary and for violating his probation on two prior convictions for aggravated assault, burglary and bail-jumping.

He received less jail time due to the fact that he only participated in one of the burglaries, because he facilitated the return of $15,950 worth of Nielson’s stolen belongings and for testifying against Tellegen during her trial. Weldele also testified against Tellegen, but his criminal history and other factors negated any benefit in his sentence.

Zelenik was also ordered to pay a $300 public defender fee and a $500 fine.

Weldele, Ekern and Zelenik all were ordered to jointly pay roughly $4,610 to the provider of Nielson’s homeowners insurance and $2,500 to the provider of his National Rifle Association firearms insurance for payouts he received after the burglary, as well as $27,354 to Nielson.

Due to Nielson’s age and health issues, District Judge Katherine Curtis approved his request that the obligation of restitution by the perpetrators be extended to his estate in the chance that he dies before it is fully paid.

Tellegen likely will be joined in the restitution requirements when she is sentenced.

Earlier in the day, Stanfield was given a 15-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to his part in the North Ashley Lake Road burglary. If he violates his probation on that sentence, he will serve the entire sentence in the Montana State Prison.

He had asked the court for a three-year deferred sentence as he had never been convicted of a felony before, but a county deputy attorney pointed out that Stanfield had seven misdemeanor convictions, several felony charges that had been either dismissed or deferred and a drug use problem beginning at the age of 11.

Stanfield may soon be facing new charges for assault and selling drugs related to a different incident, according to the county attorney’s office.

Bayreuther was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 15 years of probation for his part in the North Ashley Lake Road burglary as well as for felony convictions of criminal endangerment, assault on a peace officer, bail jumping and tampering with witnesses or informants as well as misdemeanor bail jumping.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.