Thief has to repay $15,450

A 29-year-old Kalispell man was given a six-year deferred sentence Dec. 13 in Flathead District Court after having pleaded guilty to felony theft.

Charles Oostra was provided with more than $15,000 over a six-month period by a person he had been asking for money. According to a court document, the person felt threatened by Oostra, who would yell at him.

A second felony charge of elder abuse was dismissed in exchange for Oostra pleading guilty to the theft charge.

In addition to his deferred sentence, Oostra was ordered to pay $15,450 in restitution to the victim and to make a good-faith effort to obtain his GED prior to his sentence being discharged.