A man accused of passing a bad check at a Kalispell log home construction company in 2025 earned a suspended sentence earlier this year.  

Aaron Mathew Dodds, 46, of Columbia Falls pleaded guilty to one felony count of issuing a bad check by way of an Alford plea in Flathead County District Court on June 30. In an Alford plea a defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledges a jury likely would find them guilty.  

Judge Amy Eddy, who presided over the case, handed down a suspended three-year sentence to the state Department of Corrections the same day. She gave him credit for 62 days of time served.  

Authorities opened an investigation into Dodds after the owner of the U.S. 93 South business reported receiving a bad check for $3,570 from him in late 2025, according to court documents. Although Dodds agreed to pay up, he allegedly never followed through.  

Dodds initially entered a not guilty plea, but accepted a deal from prosecutors in June. The terms of the agreement required Dodds to pay $3,750 in restitution.  

Dodds was awaiting sentencing on a separate felony drunk driving case when authorities began investigating him for the check. On June 11, Judge Danni Coffman sentenced him to 13 months with the state Department of Corrections, where he was expected to be placed in an addiction treatment program, followed by a suspended three-year sentence.  

Dodds received credit for 49 days of time served in that case.