Woman denies Glacier Park thefts, admits skipping out on probation

A Whitefish woman has denied accusations that she stole people’s wallets and credit cards from Glacier National Park last year.

Carol Elizabeth Rockafellow, 49, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Flathead District Court to one count of felony forgery and two felony counts of deceptive practices. She admitted to some violations of conditions of felony probation for a April 2015 conviction for deceptive practices.

According to court documents, Rockafellow was allegedly caught on camera at a Target store using a credit card that had been stolen from Craggy Range Bar and Grill on Oct. 17, 2015. She allegedly made $800 in unauthorized purchases.

Two days later, two women reported their purses had been stolen from their vehicles in Glacier National Park. One of the women suffered a $1,100 loss when Rockafellow allegedly used two credit cards to make five purchases. Rockafellow was also allegedly caught on camera writing a $1,500 check to Costco from the account of one of the theft victims. Rockafellow also allegedly was caught on camera trying to write a check at Riddle’s Jewelry.

Rockafellow was arrested on Nov. 3, 2015, in Orono, Minnesota, for theft. A Costco card and AAA card belonging to two of the victims in the Flathead Valley were found in her possession.

On Thursday, Rockafellow admitted to breaking conditions of her three-year deferred sentence for felony deceptive practices by traveling to Alabama and Minnesota without permission of her probation officer. While in Minnesota, Rockafellow was convicted of unlawful financial transactions.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.