Plains man helps catch alleged criminal

Authorities allege that Karsten Karl Smith of Evaro stole a 14-foot trailer from a Polson homeowner in December 2014, then waited almost a year before he attempted to sell it.

A Lake County Court affidavit filed by the Lake County Prosecuting Attorney’s office on March 7 reveals that police in Sanders County were first to uncover the Lake County crime when a Plains citizen who purchased the trailer from Smith began wondering about the man who sold him the vehicle.

The original crime, reported Dec. 28, 2014, occurred when Smith stole the trailer worth $5,000 from the Wildhorse Trading Post in Polson, the affidavit said.

On Dec. 21, 2015 Plains Police Chief Shawn Emmet received a call from a Plains man who said the person who sold him the trailer was “acting weird,” the affidavit said.

The customer said that he originally examined the trailer in Evaro, paid for the purchase then had it delivered to his home in Plains, the affidavit said.

When questioned, Smith refused to talk, but presented a bogus bill of sale that had a notary stamp emblazoned on it that expired in 2013, the affidavit said.

Smith is expected to be charged with felony theft in the case and is scheduled for his initial arraignment March 23. 

Smith is innocent until proven guilty. If convicted on the charge, Smith could face up to 10 years in prison and $50,000 in fees.