Hut burglar gets four years

POLSON — A homeless man who broke into a Pizza Hut in February was sentenced to four years of jail time last Thursday in Lake County District Court.

According to police reports, 51-year-old Scott Koplin broke into the Polson Pizza Hut around midnight on Feb. 7, but an employee still inside the building was able to call police.

When authorities arrived at the Pizza Hut, they observed Koplin, who, while homeless, holds an associate’s degree, going through the cash register with a crowbar in hand. When he left the building they arrested him.

After Koplin was handcuffed, police found a sealed plastic envelope in his pocket with several checks with “deposit only Pizza Hut” stamped on them.

After being transported to the Lake County Jail, court documents said that Koplin told police he was homeless and struggling.

He said he figured he might get a little money from breaking into the Pizza Hut and, at the same time, he thought if he got caught that he could get some help for his alcohol problems. Koplin said he knew it was stupid but he didn’t know what to do.

Koplin pled guilty to charges of burglary on March 15 and faced a maximum sentence of 20 years and a fine of $20,000.