Man pleads not guilty to Stage Stop burglary

A former store employee has denied burglarizing the Bigfork Stage Stop on Jan. 4.

Cole James Cleasby, 19, pleaded not guilty to felony burglary in Flathead District Court on Thursday.

According to court documents, a manager called the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to report a burglary that occurred during the night. A rock had been thrown through the store’s glass doors.  

 Several cartons of cigarettes were stolen. Surveillance cameras led authorities to believe Cleasby was responsible.

Cleasby met with officers that morning and reportedly confessed to the crime. The stolen cigarettes allegedly were found in his vehicle.

Cleasby is out on $15,000 bail. The case is set for a March trial.