Man sentenced for grand theft, stolen vehicle

COEUR d'ALENE - A 29-year-old Post Falls man on Tuesday was sentenced up to 10 years in prison for grand theft of a financial transaction card and possession of a stolen vehicle, the Kootenai County prosecutor's office said Wednesday.

Matthew A. McNight was sentenced by 1st District Court Judge Fred Gibler, who ordered that the first five years of the sentence for grand theft be fixed and the remaining five years be indeterminate, with credit for time served.

For possession of a stolen vehicle charge, he was given two years fixed and five years indeterminate.

The sentences for the two charges will be served concurrently, so they will overlap.

McNight pleaded guilty to the offenses in November.

The grand theft charge arose from his theft of a transaction card and subsequent use of it.

The possession of a stolen vehicle charge arose from a separate incident involving his possession of a vehicle stolen from a Spokane resident. Police found numerous stolen financial transaction cards, identification cards and wallets inside the vehicle when it was searched.

McNight has a lengthy criminal history, including numerous tobacco and alcohol possession charges, petit theft (twice), and burglary.

He has six pending misdemeanor charges, and he's a self-admitted alcohol and methamphetamine addict, and has a history of failing to participate in programs offered to him when he was incarcerated in the past.

"Until he changes, he will be a danger to the community to commit further theft crimes to support his addictions," Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh said. "He left Judge Gibler little choice when assessing the risk of further offenses and loss to the community."