A 31-year-old Minot man was given a suspended sentence and two years of supervised probation Wednesday for going into a vehicle without permission in a southeast Minot apartment complex on June 19 and later lying to police.

David Jack Buhler pleaded guilty to unlawful entry into a vehicle, a Class C felony, and to false reports to law enforcement or other security officials, a Class A misdemeanor. The state dismissed another Class C felony charge of resisting arrest. The offense will be deemed a Class A misdemeanor upon successful completion of probation.

Judge Todd Cresap sentenced Buhler to one year in jail on the felony charge, with all suspended but the eight days he already served, and ordered him to pay $1,100 in court costs. He was ordered to pay a $175 fine for lying to police.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, police caught Buhler going through a car around 3 a.m. that day. He claimed he lived there and was looking for a blanket for his child. He gave them a false name and resisted arrest when they attempted to handcuff him. When they searched Buhler, they found a small blade wrapped in a paper towel and rubber band, several rolls of electrical tape and black rubber gloves in his pockets.

In a separate case, Buhler is one of two men accused of breaking a window at a northwest Minot residence last month and making away with a safe filled with marijuana. Buhler is charged with burglary, a Class B felony, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class C felony, possession of a controlled substance, a Class C felony and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor, in that case. His co-defendant is Patricio Marquez. A preliminary hearing in that case is set for Jan. 18.

– Andrea Johnson