Coin and jewelry thief sentenced

A 25-year-old Kalispell man was sentenced Jan. 3 in Flathead District Court to five years in prison and five years of probation after pleading guilty to a string of thefts.

Kenneth Howell previously had pleaded guilty to two felony theft charges as well as one misdemeanor theft charge that had been reduced from a felony robbery charge.

On April 28, Howell was found in possession of 14 silver dollars, numerous coins, two gold pocket watches and a gold tri-fold pendant that had been stolen from a trading post. He admitted to a detective that he had obtained the coins in exchange for drugs.

On May 28, a burglary victim reported several items of jewelry and silverware had been stolen from his home between February and May and suspected Howell as he was the only person who had been inside the home besides close family.

Investigating officers found a coin missing from the residence at a pawn shop and tracked it to Howell through a pawn slip. On the phone with a detective, Howell was very quiet and emotional, saying he did not have any of the property, but would see what he could do to get it back.

On Sept. 8, Howell was detained by several people at the Flathead County Fairgrounds after trying to steal a gun from a display table during a gun show. Because he was uncooperative, officers had to carry Howell from the Expo Building for officer safety before removing the gun from his underwear.

In addition to his jail sentence, Howell was ordered to pay nearly $73,500 in restitution.