A Eureka man who didn’t get any jail time for damaging a local church a year ago is back in custody and headed to prison following another offense that occurred in Flathead County.

Christopher Gates Liestman, 54, pleaded guilty and received a suspended five-year sentence in July in Lincoln County District Court. But following a September incident in Flathead County in which he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, Lincoln County authorities sought a sentence revocation.

Liestman was accused of damaging a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in December 2024 following a night of berm jumping in Eureka. 

He admitted to the new infraction Oct. 20 in Lincoln County District Court and Cuffe resentenced him to five years in a state Department of Corrections facility. Liestman remains in the Flathead County Detention Center while he waits for a DOC bed.

Liestman was ordered to pay a $500 fine and pay $1,570 in restitution to the church. He received credit for serving 19 days in the county jail next court appearance.

Liestman, a California native, has a lengthy criminal record in Montana dating back more than 30 years.

According to Montana State Prison information, he was accused of dealing drugs in 1994 in Lincoln County, burglary in 1995, also in Lincoln County, and theft and burglary in Cascade County in 2000.

Liestman faced criminal charges in 2005 in Stearns County, Minnesota for check forgery and first degree criminal damage to property.

Part of the Liestman’s state prison record includes tattoos and he has a wide variety. They include, “KKK,” four tear drops, swastikas, the Confederate flag, and “Gone Postal.” Others include a dove, “Love,” eagle and the Tazmanian devil.

In the 2024 case, 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 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 either that or something that was available.

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.