Man pleads no contest to burglaries, car crash

A 19-year-old Kalispell man has changed his plea in burglary and criminal endangerment cases after previously rejecting a plea deal.

Shane Connor Christensen has been convicted of accountability to deceptive practices for the burglary of six Bigfork businesses in 2014. Six counts of felony burglary have been dropped through his plea agreement.

He also was convicted of criminal endangerment for crashing a car that same year, causing substantial injuries to a female passenger.

Both convictions came at a hearing on Thursday when he entered no contest pleas.

Christensen was set to change his plea and accept a sentence agreement in March, but he decided at the time to proceed to trial.

On Thursday, Christensen indicated that he ultimately decided that he would be found guilty at trial. He then entered no contest pleas for the previously drafted plea agreement. The recommended sentence is a 10-year deferred imposition of sentence, which involves no additional jail time.

According to court documents, six businesses were broken into on Feb. 19, 2014. They were Bigfork United Rentals, The Senior Center, Albiero Chiropractic, Waterstreet Company, Clayton’s Dentist Office and Nelson Electric.

A credit card that was reported stolen from United Rentals was used for as much as $9,000 in fraudulent charges, according to court documents.

Police arrested Christensen and another man, Severin Gislason, in relation to the burglaries. Gislason pleaded guilty to burglary and deceptive practices in November. He received a 10-year deferred sentence on the two counts.

Christensen faced six counts of burglary and one for deceptive practices for the burglary.

In July 2014, Christensen was arrested and charged with criminal endangerment after he lost control of a vehicle going at least 120 mph. The crash severely injured a passenger.

His plea agreement dismissed the six burglary counts. During the hearing, Christensen said that he would pay the “substantial” restitution for medical bills following the car crash.

“I am more than prepared to do everything in my power to pay that,” he said.

Christensen is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 6.

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