Man admits taking illegal unemployment benefits

A Kalispell man has admitted receiving nearly $20,000 in unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled.

Jose Bernabe, 42, pleaded guilty April 10 in Flathead District Court to felony theft.

A second charge of misdemeanor unsworn falsification to authorities was dismissed.

Bernabe admitted he was working during a 70-week period from February 2009 through March 2011 despite filing for and receiving unemployment benefits during that time.

A court document states that Bernabe lied to an unemployment insurance investigator, suggesting his ex-girlfriend might have used his information to make the filings and later telling police an unemployment office employee told him the money was being deposited in a Nevada Bank.

Along with the illegal benefits received by Bernabe, a 33 percent penalty brings to $25,700 the total he owes to the unemployment insurance division.

Bernabe now faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $50,000 when he is sentenced July 12.