MISSOULA — A Missoula man who pleaded guilty to his role in a burglary that preceded the fatal shooting of a German exchange student has been given a three-year deferred sentence.
District Judge Ed McLean sentenced 19-year-old Tristan Staber on Wednesday for conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal trespass to vehicles.
Court records say Staber acted as a lookout while a 16-year-old took marijuana, wallets and a cellphone from the garage of Markus Kaarma last spring.
Kaarma shot and killed 17-year-old Diren Dede in his garage 10 days later. He is scheduled to be sentenced for deliberate homicide on Thursday.
McLean ordered Staber to complete a treatment program and pay $2,000 in fines and restitution or face prison time. He also told him to get his GED and seek further education.