A 23-year-old man originally given a five-year suspended sentence for tampering with evidence in a murder case is now going to jail because he violated his probation.

Joshua Fritz was one of five people person charged in connection with the April 12, 2010, murder of Wesley “Bubba” Collins of Kalispell

The body of Collins was found in a wooded area after Robert Lake and Jeffrey Nixon bludgeoned him to death with hammers, then stole his medical marijuana and money.

Fritz denied being involved in the theft of the drugs and other items when he went to Collins’ apartment with Lake five days after the murder, but admitted disposing of Collins’ phone after leaving the home.

He originally was charged with tampering with evidence, burglary, theft and obstructing a peace officer. All but the felony tampering charge were dropped as part of a controversial plea agreement that left him the only person convicted that did not receive jail time but instead only five years of probation.

For the other four defendants:

— Lake was sentenced April 6, 2011, to 110 years in prison after pleading guilty to deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. 

— Nixon was sentenced Sept. 14, 2011, to 100 years in prison after being convicted at trial of accountability to deliberate homicide, robbery, burglary and tampering with evidence. 

— Karrolyn Robinson was sentenced Dec. 17, 2010, to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence and theft. 

— Cody Naldrett was sentenced April 29, 2011, to six months in jail and 10 years of probation after entering an Alford plea to tampering with evidence.

At the time, Deputy County Attorney Alison Howard said the disparity in sentences was due to the fact that while the charges were similar, Fritz received a better plea deal because there was no indication he had been aware of the murder.

During a Dec. 6 hearing in Flathead District Court, Fritz admitted that he left Montana and went to Michigan to see his family. After some time there, he turned himself in to local police and was transported back to Flathead County.

With his admission, Fritz was determined to have violated his probation in both the 2010 case as well as a 2009 case.

His attorney sought a re-suspended sentence totaling eight years of probation, but Judge Ted Lympus sided with the Flathead County Attorney’s Office and sentenced Fritz to five years in prison and five years of probation. 

Fritz also was ordered to pay back the roughly $1,700 spent by the county to transport him back from Michigan.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.