Woman accused of theft of car parts

A Kalispell woman serving a suspended sentence for burglary and theft pleaded not guilty last week in Flathead District Court to a new felony charge of theft.

Kandice Tellegen, 26, is alleged to have stolen more than $8,500 worth of vintage Chrysler car parts from storage buildings on Amdahl Lane on March 2.

According to a court document, Flathead County deputies saw tracks in the mud consistent with someone driving through the property’s locked gate.

The owner of the property reportedly told deputies that he walked down the railroad tracks from his shop to look into the yard at Pacific Steel and saw several of the stolen parts in plain view. The company was able to identify Tellegen as the person who brought in the items.

Roughly half of the stolen items were recovered from Pacific Steel.

When deputies approached Tellegen at her home, she allegedly admitted stealing the items and taking them to Pacific Steel.

Tellegen had been convicted June 6, 2012, of felony burglary and theft charges for burglarizing a Spring Hill Road home along with Aaron Zelenik, Jeffrey Weldele and Ashley Ekern.

She was given a 10-year suspended sentence on Aug. 14, 2012.

In addition to her suspended sentence, Tellegen was ordered to join in the restitution owed by all four perpetrators, consisting of $27,354 to the homeowner as well as roughly $4,610 to the provider of his homeowners insurance and $2,500 to the provider of his National Rifle Association firearms insurance for payouts he received after the burglary.

If convicted of the new charge, Tellegen faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 as well as any restitution. She also faces the possibility that her prior sentence will be revoked.

Her next hearing is set for April 10.

She is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where her bond was initially set at $50,000 before being reduced to $2,500.

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