POLSON — A 28-year-old Polson man pleaded not guilty to charges of theft in Lake County District Court last Wednesday after he allegedly wrote out company checks to himself that totaled nearly $24,000. He allegedly used the checks to pay off gambling debts.

According to Lake County Sheriff’s Office reports, Eric Baszler used company software to write checks from his employer, Flathead Brewing Company, between January and October of last year despite not being authorized to do so. He then altered the records to show that the checks were being written to vendors that the company did business with.

On Dec. 20, 2011, the manager of Flathead Lake Brewing Company contacted the Lake County Sheriff’s Department to report that one of their employees had been embezzling money. According to the court affidavit, Baszler was fired on Oct. 24.

When authorities questioned him, Baszler admitted to writing the checks and cashing many of them out at the Tall Pines Inn. He said that he had stolen checks for about a year. Baszler added he used the money to pay off his gambling debts and that he was in counseling three times a week for his addiction.

Bank records show that Baszler took $23,994.24.

Baszler will remain at liberty and his omnibus hearing is set for March 28 at 9 a.m. His jury trial is set for June 4 at 9 a.m.

Flathead Lake Brewing Company is located in Woods Bay, just south of Bigfork in Lake County.