A Kalispell man pleaded not guilty to felony theft in Flathead District Court on Thursday for allegedly falsifying his work history and taking more than $11,000 in illegal unemployment benefits.

According to court documents filed by the Montana Attorney General’s Office, Tony Molyneux, 42, submitted information to collect state unemployment pay between June 11, 2011, and Oct. 20, 2012.

Investigators allegedly found that Molyneux was working at Meat Production Inc. during the time he claimed unemployment benefits.

He was overpaid $11,186, investigators determined.

State prosecutors are asking a judge to tack on a 33 percent penalty for a total of $14,877.

Molyneux had made two payments totaling $1,096 toward the alleged debt as of December, when a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Molyneux is set to go to trial the last week of November.

He has been released on his own recognizance.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].