A Libby man has been charged with stealing items from residents in his former home.

Casey Robert Clawson, 35, is being held on $10,000 bail for felony burglary and misdemeanor theft charges. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, six months imprisonment and $51,500 in fines if convicted.

Clawson was arrested Dec. 18 after victims of the theft called to report items missing from their new trailer home. Clawson, who had been living inside the trailer home just a week earlier, reportedly was standing outside near his vehicle parked next to the home when Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Brent Faulkner arrived.

According to court documents, the victims had told Clawson on Dec. 17 that he needed to get his belongings out that day, but when Clawson never showed up they moved his things outside.

The new residents told Faulkner they had paid the landlord $200 to take rental ownership of the trailer, and had moved Clawson’s belongings under a shed while they moved their things in. The new residents had blocked the back entrance by screwing a board to the back door and the trailer frame, but someone reportedly had kicked in the back door to get inside.

Clawson had been staying in the trailer next door, and when Faulkner arrived he allegedly found items belonging to the victims, including food and other items reported missing, inside Clawson’s vehicle, according to court documents.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.