Man gets probation for stealing unemployment benefits

A Kalispell man was ordered Dec. 15 to serve a probationary sentence and pay restitution for stealing unemployment benefits from January 2009 until July 2011.

Nathan Eduard Hale, 29, was given a six-year deferred imposition of sentence for felony theft. A deferred sentence allows an individual to serve time on felony probation, and eventually have the conviction removed from his or her record once the sentence is completed. Hale pleaded guilty to the charge after a felony bail-jumping charge was dropped.

According to court documents, Hale received $17,578 after he reported that he only earned $23,036 from January 2009 to July 2011. In reality, pay stubs showed that Hale had earned $63,038 while working at Plum Creek. After a 33 percent special assessment, Hale eventually owed the state over $23,000. Special state prosecutor Joseph Nevin told the court has started to make some payments, but still owes more than $18,000.