A man accused of stealing tools and equipment from a Kalispell Public Schools program late last year received a suspended jail sentence in January.  

Originally charged with felony burglary, 40-year-old Gregory Holm of Kalispell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft at his Jan. 22 arraignment before Judge Amy Eddy in Flathead County District Court. Prosecutors amended the charges ahead of Holm's court appearance after reaching a plea deal that encompassed a pending drunk driving case.  

Eddy sentenced Holm to a suspended six-month stint in the county jail and gave him credit for 30 days of time served. She ordered Holm to pay $678 to the school district and $270 to a pawnshop in restitution.  

Investigators with the Kalispell Police Department linked Holm to a Dec. 19 break-in at a construction site used by the school district's homebuilding program after the stolen tools appeared at a local pawnshop, according to court documents. Though defaced to remove any markings denoting ownership, the tools matched the list of items lifted from the worksite.   

Store managers identified Holm as the person pawning the items, according to court documents. When confronted by the police, Holm allegedly admitted stealing tools from three construction sites the month prior. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.