Friday, January 31, 2025
32.0°F

Alleged abortion clinic vandal faces new charge

Richard Hanners Hungry Horse News | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 6 months AGO
by Richard Hanners Hungry Horse News
| July 18, 2014 7:23 AM

The 24-year-old Columbia Falls man charged with breaking into and vandalizing the All Families Healthcare clinic in Kalispell now faces a felony theft charge related to a burglary at a business on Highway 40.

Zachary Klundt pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 3. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for allegedly stealing tools worth more than $1,500 from Glacier Log Mill / Lazarus Log Homes. He had worked at the business two years earlier.

The owner of the business reported the tools missing on March 14, about 10 days after the abortion clinic was vandalized. The tools were turned over to the sheriff’s office by a private investigator on April 17. He has an omnibus hearing scheduled for Sept. 17 on this charge.

In the abortion clinic case, Klundt pleaded not guilty on March 17 to felony charges of burglary, criminal mischief, theft and attempted burglary. He faces up to 60 years in prison and a $200,000 fine if convicted of those four charges.

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan opted not to prosecute Klundt for a hate crime despite pressure by clinic owner Susan Cahill and members of the community. Corrigan said no specific hate crime statute exists in Montana law. Instead, state statutes cover the crime of malicious intimidation or harassment relating to civil or human rights.

Klundt is accused of damaging art, furniture, medical instruments, medical supplies and file cabinets at the valley’s only abortion clinic, as well as breaking a sewer line, and damaging the boiler system, a water heater and plumbing.

Police arrested Klundt after a resident reported seeing a possibly drunk man trying to pick a lock at a business on South Main Street in Kalispell.

Police found a loaded, concealed handgun, a loaded spare magazine and several other weapons in his possession.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Alleged abortion clinic vandal faces new charge
Bigfork Eagle | Updated 10 years, 6 months ago
Clinic vandalism doesn't meet hate-crime test
Hungry Horse News | Updated 10 years, 9 months ago
Clinic vandalism doesn't meet hate-crime test
Bigfork Eagle | Updated 10 years, 9 months ago

ARTICLES BY RICHARD HANNERS HUNGRY HORSE NEWS

November 11, 2011 7:12 a.m.

Local woman wrestles with meth habit

Two-year suspended sentence revoked

October 12, 2011 7:31 a.m.

Tourism is No. 5 polluter

Ski areas without snow, beaches eroding as polar ice melts and oceans rise, forest fires running rampant across mountain ranges, wetlands turning into deserts while deserts get flooded - these are some of the gloomier forecasts tourists will face in the 21st century, according to some climate-change models.

August 19, 2011 3:12 p.m.

Former CFAC owner donates to college

Recent news that the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. smelter plant has a shot at lining up a power contract with the Bonneville Power Administration coincided with this summer's news about one of the company's former owners.