Man faces bail-jumping charge

A third bench warrant has been issued for a Columbia Falls man who faces charges of writing 15 bad checks and who failed to show up at two initial arraignment hearings in Flathead County District Court.

In addition to two felony charges of issuing bad checks, Jeff Bronson, 52, now faces a felony bail-jumping charge.

He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of bail jumping and up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for each of the bad checks charges.

According to court records, Bronson used a $1,550 check drawn on his Valley Bank account for a purchase at United Tool Rental in November 2009. The check came back for insufficient funds, but Bronson did not report a forged check and did not respond to bank notices sent to his last known address, at that time in Kalispell.

A bench warrant for Bronson was issued by Judge Stewart Stadler in June 2010, but the case was dismissed with prejudice one month later by Judge Ted Lympus.

A new charge of issuing bad checks was made this year after 15 checks drawn on Bronson's Valley Bank account bounced for insufficient funds.

Totaling $1,425, eight checks were issued to Windiggers Casino in Kalispell, three to Kelly's Casino in Columbia Falls, two to Super 1 Foods in Columbia Falls, one to Moose's Saloon in Kalispell and one to Costco Wholesale in Kalispell.

By that time, Bronson was living on Jellison Road in Columbia Falls. He was arrested on Oct. 7 and posted a $3,000 bond the next day, but he failed to appear at his initial arraignment on Nov. 3 and the bond was forfeited. He was arrested again on Nov. 4 and posted a $5,000 bond on Nov. 10, but he failed to appear at his initial arraignment on Dec. 1.

Judge Katherine Curtis issued a bench warrant for Bronson on Dec. 2 and set bail at $10,000.