Smith's Foods hold-up man gets 10 years
A 20-year-old man who was charged with robbing Smith's Foods in Columbia Falls in 2009 was given a 10-year prison sentence and handed over to Idaho to face additional charges.
Nathan Hunt, formerly of Columbia Falls, faced four charges in Flathead County District Court, including felony robbery at Smith's.
According to police records, Hunt entered the grocery store just before midnight on Oct. 25, 2009, with a bandanna over his face. He allegedly pointed a gun at a clerk and took her cash drawer. No one was injured, and Hunt escaped on foot.
Hunt was also charged with breaking into a storage container at an Army Navy store in the valley in November 2009 by allegedly cutting through a fence and cutting the padlocks. About $1,900 worth of merchandise was stolen and $450 worth of damage was assessed.
He was also charged with breaking into a Kalispell construction company's shop in December 2009 by allegedly cutting the padlocks. Several items were reported missing.
Local police had received a tip that Hunt had robbed the Smith's store but were unable to locate him, Columbia Falls Police Chief Dave Perry said. In April 2010, local police learned Hunt had been arrested after robbing two stores in Hayden Lake, Idaho.
Hunt allegedly had admitted to his brother that he committed the Flathead crimes. Hunt was transported back to Montana to face the four Flathead charges.
Charges of misdemeanor criminal mischief and felony burglary were dismissed in a plea bargain in which state prosecutors recommended a 20-year combined sentence with 10 years suspended. Sentencing was delayed, however, while Hunt underwent psychological evaluation.
On Nov. 24, 2010, District Court Judge Stewart Stadler sentenced Hunt to 15 years in prison with five suspended, $4,950 in restitution, a $1,000 suspended fine and $500 in public defender fees. He was given credit for 220 days in the Flathead County Detention Center.
Hunt's attorney did not challenge Idaho's request that he be returned to that state for prosecution.