A former Bellevue man convicted of stealing from his father will get a chance at rehabilitation, but Judge Robert Elgee warned the man that "one more slipup" and he'll go to prison.
In 5th District Court Thursday morning, Elgee sentenced Shannon Mose Halverson to 350 days retained jurisdiction for grand theft. With retained jurisdiction, convicted felons are typically sent to the Idaho Department of Correction North Idaho Correctional Facility in Cottonwood, where rehabilitation is offered.
Elgee also gave Halverson a five-year suspended prison sentence, which the judge said will be imposed if Halverson doesn't "change his life."
"You have a long bad history," the judge said. "You have to change yourself from the toes up or you're going to the pen. You've gone as far as you can without going to the pen."
Elgee ordered that the sentence run concurrent with a recent felony sentence in Ada County, where Halverson was convicted of possession of stolen property.
In the Blaine County charge, Halverson, 37, pleaded guilty earlier this month to breaking into his father's vehicle in Bellevue in January and stealing a GPS system and checks from his father's checkbook. According to court records, Halverson forged signatures on two of the checks and cashed them for $3,700 each.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Fredback said Halverson has a "long history of misdemeanor and felony charges," including theft, domestic violence and substance abuse. Fredback said the prosecutor's office agreed to recommend retained jurisdiction as part of a plea agreement, but that Halverson "has a criminal history that deserves the pen."
Halverson's father, Mick Halverson, briefly addressed the court.
"I wish we weren't here today," Mick Halverson said. "I love my son, but I cannot condone what happened. I would hope that through this he can turn his life around."
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Shannon Mose Halverson
