SONNY TAPIA

A Helena man facing three felonies on Sept. 11 changed his earlier pleas to two of the charges to guilty for his involvement in an alleged embezzlement case from the Montana Heritage Commission.

Casey Jack Steinke, who was listed in court documents involving Michael Elijah Allen, was originally charged in December with two felony counts of accountability for theft by embezzlement and felony money laundering.

The Montana Heritage Commission (MHC) preserves properties in Virginia City, Nevada City and Reeder's Alley and is under the Department of Commerce.

Allen was the head of the MHC at the time of his alleged crimes.

According to court documents, Allen, in his capacity as head of the MHC, made numerous payments to Steinke out of MHC funds.

The payments totaled $350,000

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