Casino robber changes plea to no contest
Samantha Lee Starks enters a plea of no contest to a charge of felony robbery during her April 29 appearance in Flathead County District Court.
The woman accused of robbing the Jackpot Casino in Bigfork last fall pleaded guilty by way of no contest at her April 29 change of plea hearing in Flathead County District Court. Samantha Lee Starks was charged with one count of felony robbery after she was identified as the suspect in a morning robbery of the Jackpot Casino on Nov. 12, 2019. A plea of no contest has the same effect as a guilty plea, meaning the defendant will face punishment for the charge, however she will not admit guilt for the offense. District Court Judge Robert Allison said that, according to the plea agreement, the State of Montana, represented by County Attorney Travis Ahner, was planning to recommend a five-year sentence in the state prison in exchange for Stark’s guilty plea. Felony robbery carries maximum penalties of 40 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Prior to sentencing, Starks will participate in a pre-sentence investigation, along with a chemical dependency and mental health evaluation. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 in Flathead County District Court.
Stark’s charge stems from a Nov. 12 incident that was first reported to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office at 9:26 a.m. that morning. The casino manager at Jackpot Casino told dispatch that a woman, later identified as Starks, pulled a gun on her and asked for the manager’s apron, which contained keys to the store and Golden Gaming gambling machines. During the incident, the thief reportedly raised her eyebrow at the casino manager and gave her a look that said, “don’t make me do this,” according to dispatch logs.
Law enforcement canvassed the area around the casino following the initial report, with assistance from a Two Bear Air helicopter, which employed heat-sensing technology to search for the subject from the air. However, Starks eluded local law enforcement for nearly a month. In the weeks following the incident, the sheriff’s office received a number of tips from the public and arrested Starks Dec. 10. Starks was interviewed about the robbery and allegedly admitted to being involved in the crime, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. ■