A Kalispell man accused of stealing more than $40,000 in tactical gear and precious metals has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge in Flathead County District Court.  

Byron Conner Christensen, 24, was arraigned on a felony count of theft before Judge Paul Sullivan on Oct. 29. Released on his own recognizance, he is expected back in court on Dec. 21 for a pretrial conference.  

The victim approached Kalispell Police officers about the thefts in March 2025, according to court documents. He said that his son and Christensen were roommates between November 2023 and December 2024. 

Belongings that the victim stored at the home, including a tactical helmet and vest, binoculars, night vision equipment and a gold bar, had since turned up missing, he said. The list of missing items was later expanded to include more precious metals, scopes and guns, according to court documents.  

Because Christensen had permission to use several of the items, the victim contacted him to ask about the missing belongings, court documents said. Christensen allegedly sent the victim a text message offering compensation, but declined to answer any of the victim's phone calls. 

Kalispell detectives subsequently determined that Christensen had sold 28 items at nearby pawn shops between March and August 2024. The items that authorities determined belonged to the victim amounted to more than $40,000, according to court documents. The victim estimated that another $28,000 in missing items never turned up at the pawn shops.  

When detectives confronted Christensen, he allegedly described the missing items as a loss rather than a theft and said he had agreed to pay the victim back. The victim, he said, had since stopped communicating with him.  

Although Christensen agreed to sit for an interview with detectives, he backed out before speaking with them, court documents said.  

Christensen is listed as the agent of Guardian K9 academy, a now-defunct Kalispell dog training facility.  

If convicted of felony theft, Christensen faces up to 10 years in state prison and a $50,000 fine. 

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.