Car salesman receives suspended sentence for down-payment theft

A 41-year-old car salesman was given a suspended sentence Thursday for pocketing a customer’s down payment.

On Thursday in Flathead County District Court, Jeremy French was sentenced to six years with the Montana Department of Corrections. The entire sentence was suspended.

Authorities say he is listed as a resident of Anthem, Arizona.

While he was selling vehicles at 406 Motors in Evergreen, French took a $3,000 down payment from a customer, according to court records.

Instead of depositing it with the company, he kept the money and took it home. The owner of the business, Elijah Arnlund, noticed the bookkeeping gap.

According to court documents, French told Arnlund that he used to money for gambling.

Arnlund told the Daily Inter Lake on Thursday that French no longer works for the company.

French pleaded guilty on May 7 to felony theft. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay $3,000 back to 406 Motors.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.