Kalispell man pleads not guilty to identity theft

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By The Associated Press

KALISPELL - A Kalispell man has been accused of chartering a private jet to Mexico while impersonating the son of country music legend Merle Haggard and then charging the $61,000 bill to a companion's credit card.

Forty-nine-year-old Mark Sams pleaded not guilty Tuesday to one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Court documents say that Sams introduced himself to the alleged victim as Noel Haggard in April 2007. He said he could use a six-figure line of credit that he had accrued through previous business dealings with an aviation company to arrange a paid trip to Mexico. They took the trip in June 2007.

But prosecutors say that when the alleged victim's credit card bill arrived at the end of the month, it included a $61,000 charge for the chartered jet. Prosecutors also say that Sams impersonated Noel Haggard throughout his dealings with the aviation company.

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