A Eureka man accused of damaging a LDS church in December 2024 following a night of berm jumping recently was sentenced in Lincoln County District Court.

Christopher Gates Liestman, 53, was arraigned Jan. 27 and pleaded not guilty to felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor criminal trespass. He pleaded guilty to the felony offense in June and received a 5-year suspended sentence July 28 from District Judge Matt Cuffe. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine and pay $1,570 in restitution to the church.

Liestman was free after posting $10,000 bail earlier this year. He received credit for serving 19 days in the county jail next court appearance.

Liestman’s attorney, Scott B. Johnson, sought to have a condition of using marijuana removed from the accused’s probation record. But deputy county attorney Jeff Zwang argued it was part of the plea deal and Johnson dropped the request. Liestman said he used medical marijuana for PTSD. 

According to the narrative of county deputy Clint Heintz, he was called to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Dec. 10 on Osloski Road after a person reported a smashed, double pane window with an estimated value of $2,000. The caller was concerned that a person who was trespassed from the church may have been involved.

But Heintz learned that person was in the county jail on a burglary charge.

The next day, Dec. 11, a person called with information about the break-in. The person told deputy Bo Pitman a man came into their office seeking help to get his truck out of a snow berm. An employee helped the man get his truck out of the snow berm in the church parking lot.

After getting a description of the man from the employee, Pitman spoke to deputy Heintz, who said it was Chris Liestman.

Dec. 12, deputy Heintz confirmed the man’s identity and then spoke to him at his residence. According to Heintz, Liestman said he knew law enforcement was coming and that it was him.

According to the charging document, Liestman said he had taken Benadryl and drank one beer before going out berm jumping in his truck. Liestman said he couldn’t remember where he spent the night.

When he was told about the window, he said he couldn’t remember, but he wouldn’t be surprised if he did it. After being asked if he used a tool from his truck, he stated that or something that was laying around.

Then he stated he remembered and thought that churches should be unlocked, according to the narrative written by Heintz. The deputy noticed multiple cuts and scrapes  on his hands.

A conviction for felony criminal mischief may result in a 10-year term in the Montana State Prison.