Escape artist to return to prison

A man convicted of an attempted jailbreak a week after his successful escape from Mineral County Jail has been sentenced to return to prison.

Flathead District Court Judge Amy Eddy on March 23 sentenced Zachary Bergman, 27, to 20 years in Montana State Prison with 10 years suspended for the felony offense.

Bergman previously admitted to attempting to break out of the Flathead County Detention Center in October 2016, using a cup and toothbrush to tunnel into the ceiling of his cell.

Bergman was reportedly found inside the hole after an officer discovered he was missing from his cell and was apprehended without incident.

After the attempt, authorities allegedly found a letter reading, “They said nobody could get out of Alcatraz too, but they did. Zach’s already made it once mays well go for it now. Your (sic) setting history for this jail.”

Flathead County Detention Center planned to seek restitution for the cost of damages Bergman caused to the jail, which was estimated at more than $10,000.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.