Man gets four years for three felonies

A year-end string of crimes earned a Kalispell man a four-year sentence with the Montana Department of Corrections.

Arthur Lee Palmer, 30, was sentenced Thursday in Flathead District Court for two counts of theft and one count of criminal endangerment. The three felonies came in three separate cases.

The sentence is consistent with a January plea agreement that recommended a 12-year sentence with eight years suspended. The agreement also dismissed a felony charge of obstructing a peace officer.

Palmer, who has a long history with the Flathead County court system, started this latest spree in September. According to court documents, he stole two masonry saws from the back of a work truck and tried to pawn them a month later. Flathead County sheriff’s deputies found other stolen tools in the truck used by Palmer.

In December, Whitefish police found Palmer in a stolen car that had slid off the road. A woman in the car later told police that Palmer picked her up in it. Palmer also reportedly used a credit card belonging to the car owner.

Later that month, sheriff’s deputies came upon a suspicious vehicle. The car took off with Palmer at the wheel. Deputies gave chase along with the Kalispell Police Department. According to court documents, Palmer ran into a pole and started running. Police caught and arrested Palmer after a short chase.

District Judge Heidi J. Ulbricht ruled on all three cases on Thursday. Palmer went into custody right after the hearing.