Man gone for four years denies bail jumping

A 25-year-old man who allegedly fled from charges in Kalispell was back in Flathead District Court last week when he pleaded not guilty to a new felony charge of bail jumping.

In January 2009, Dustin Abramovitz pleaded guilty to felony issuing a bad check in a 2007 case and felony forgery in a 2008 case in exchange for suggested six-year deferred sentences in each case.

A second count of felony issuing a bad check from the first case was dismissed.

Abramovitz was also to be ordered to pay nearly $4,400 in restitution.

According to the “new” case, filed in 2009, Abramovitz failed to appear for his sentencing on March 5, 2009.

A warrant for his arrest was issued several days later, but Abramovitz was not located and arrested until almost exactly four years later, on March 6 this year.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry indicated that Abramovitz has a mailing address in Kalispell, but his residential address is in Merced, Calif.

If convicted of the new charge, Abramovitz faces up to 10 years in prison. It is unclear what effect Abramovitz’s alleged flight will have on his sentences in his prior two cases.

His next hearing in the new case is set for April 10. Status hearings on both prior cases are set for April 18.

Abramovitz is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where his combined bond on all three cases is $40,000.