A 24-year-old Kalispell man’s attempt to steal items from his own car while it was in the Flathead County impound lot led to his arrest Monday night.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said his office knew Jan Vondrich was planning the attempt, so seven deputies had staked out the vehicle and blocked potential exits.

“We had developed information earlier that day that Mr. Vondrich was planning to break into our impound area to possibly retrieve stolen gaming machine keys that were hidden in his vehicle that was in the impound,” Curry said. “We did catch him entering our lot and his vehicle, removing keys and a stereo.”

Deputies obtained a search warrant earlier in the day and located the keys, which would open gaming machines at local casinos. They allowed Vondrich to attempt the theft so law officers could establish a connection to the keys, which are believed to have been used in other crimes.

“This case is still under investigation, and there may be further charges coming based upon the new information we obtained about these keys,” he said.

According to Curry, they also took steps in case Vondrich managed to get away.

“We had replaced the keys with non-functional duplicates that looked the same,” he said.

Vondrich was preliminarily charged with criminal trespass to property, criminal contempt and burglary. The reason taking items from his own vehicle also was illegal is because it was in possession of law enforcement connected to a crime.

Curry said the department has considered improvements to keep people out of the impound lot as a result of the attempted theft. Vondrich was able to crawl underneath the fence to gain access.

Still, Curry was not overly concerned, as this was the only incident at the impound lot that he knew of.

“We usually don’t keep anything there — as a general rule — that is of evidentiary value because it’s outside, obviously,” he said. “His car had already been searched pursuant to another case. Anything that we have that we’re concerned about, we keep inside.”

In fact, Vondrich was released on his own recognizance from the Flathead County Detention Center on Jan. 20 after a change-of-plea hearing while he was awaiting his sentencing.

Vondrich was one of three men arrested following an Oct. 26, 2011, robbery of Gardner’s RV and Trailer Center, where Vondrich, Kevin Everett, 22, and Kyle Egland, 22, stole televisions, DVD players and stereo equipment. All three have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the case.

It is because of his involvement in that crime that Vondrich’s vehicle was impounded. The reason the keys were not located in the prior search is because deputies specifically were looking for the items from the Gardner’s burglary.

Vondrich’s sentencing on the felony burglary charge to which he pleaded guilty is scheduled for March 29. He is facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Egland will be sentenced on a felony theft charge in the case as well as charges on two other cases this morning. He is facing five years in jail and a consecutive five-year suspended sentence, although he can argue for a lower sentence.

Everett received a five-year suspended sentence on his charge of felony burglary March 8, consecutive to a five-year jail sentence he received for a drug charge.

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