A 25-year-old Columbia Falls man pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of theft in Flathead County District Court on Feb. 23.

John Bovee is charged with stealing more than $172,000 worth of platinum contact pins and contact bars from Applied Materials, in Kalispell, during three weeks in 2011. Bovee worked for Applied Materials, formerly Semitool, and had access to the materials that were stolen.

According to court records, the company reported the theft of the contact pins and bars, which are used to make computer parts, to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. All told, the company reported 1,022 contact pins worth $13,392 and 272 contact bars worth $158,848 were stolen between April 29 and June 10 last year.

Applied Materials’ security personnel contacted a recycling company and found that a platinum recycling kit had been sent to a customer in Whitefish. After serving a subpoena, the recycling company identified the person who ordered the recycling kit as Bovee.

Whitefish police interviewed Bovee, and he allegedly confessed to stealing some of the platinum material and selling it. Bovee’s bank records show he received more than $4,500 in wire transfers in May 2011.

He faces up to 10 years and a $50,000 fine if convicted. His next hearing is April 11.