Alleged abortion clinic vandal faces new charge

The 24-year-old Columbia Falls man charged with breaking into and vandalizing the All Families Healthcare clinic in Kalispell now faces a felony theft charge related to a burglary at a business on Highway 40.

Zachary Klundt pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 3. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for allegedly stealing tools worth more than $1,500 from Glacier Log Mill / Lazarus Log Homes. He had worked at the business two years earlier.

The owner of the business reported the tools missing on March 14, about 10 days after the abortion clinic was vandalized. The tools were turned over to the sheriff’s office by a private investigator on April 17. He has an omnibus hearing scheduled for Sept. 17 on this charge.

In the abortion clinic case, Klundt pleaded not guilty on March 17 to felony charges of burglary, criminal mischief, theft and attempted burglary. He faces up to 60 years in prison and a $200,000 fine if convicted of those four charges.

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan opted not to prosecute Klundt for a hate crime despite pressure by clinic owner Susan Cahill and members of the community. Corrigan said no specific hate crime statute exists in Montana law. Instead, state statutes cover the crime of malicious intimidation or harassment relating to civil or human rights.

Klundt is accused of damaging art, furniture, medical instruments, medical supplies and file cabinets at the valley’s only abortion clinic, as well as breaking a sewer line, and damaging the boiler system, a water heater and plumbing.

Police arrested Klundt after a resident reported seeing a possibly drunk man trying to pick a lock at a business on South Main Street in Kalispell.

Police found a loaded, concealed handgun, a loaded spare magazine and several other weapons in his possession.