Woman sentenced for forgery, meth lab charge dropped

A plea deal has been reached in the case of a 42-year-old woman arrested for forgery, burglary and operating a meth lab while passing through the Flathead on her way from California to North Dakota.

Cindy Pruett and her traveling companion, Timothy Holt, 31, were arrested by Kalispell police on June 20, 2013. Both had extensive past criminal histories and were considered flight risks.

According to court documents, Holt and Pruett allegedly stole a checkbook and wrote more than $2,700 in bad checks. The victim said the couple had been staying at her grandfather’s residence in Columbia Falls, where the checks were stolen.

The couple were arrested after they allegedly tried to use a stolen credit card. A search of their room at the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell turned up a meth pipe Holt said was his and a syringe he claimed belonged to Pruett.

Holt also allegedly confessed that he and Pruett burglarized a storage unit on U.S. 2 south of Glacier Park International Airport. Some of the stolen items, burglary tools and equipment for a meth lab were allegedly found in their vehicle.

Each faced up to 80 years in prison and a fine of up to $125,000 if convicted of all their initial charges.

Following a plea agreement, Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison sentenced Holt on Sept. 26 to 10 years with the Department of Corrections with five suspended for the meth lab case. Holt’s other two charges were dismissed.

Pruett’s plea agreement was nearly identical. Allison sentenced her on Jan. 2 to 10 years with the Department of Corrections with five suspended for the felony forgery charge. Her other two charges were dismissed.

Pruett must pay $600 in restitution for the bad checks and a $500 net fine. Allison also recommended her for placement at DOC’s Passages treatment center in Billings followed by prerelease and the state’s intensive supervision program (ISP) as appropriate.