Lakeside grocery-store thief pleads guilty

A Kalispell man whose theft attempt was thwarted by workers and a customer has pleaded guilty to trying to steal from Blacktail Grocery.

Trenton Halstad, 20, changed his plea to the felony charge of attempted theft on Dec. 12 in Flathead District Court as part of a plea deal with a recommendation that he receive a deferred sentence.

Halstad entered the store on Aug. 25, his face concealed behind a black mask, and walked directly to the manager’s office where he started taking money from a safe.

Two employees and a customer confronted Halstad, wrestling him to the ground, restraining him and taking away the $1,500 he had tried to steal.

According to the plea agreement, the Flathead County Attorney’s Office is recommending a five-year, suspended sentence when Halstad is sentenced on Feb. 6.