Pro angler pleads guilty in theft case

Douglas D. Komrosky of Havre pleaded guilty today in state District Court to a felony charge of theft by unauthorized control for using his position as treasurer of the local Walleye Unlimited chapter for his own personal financial benefit.

Upon entering into a plea agreement with the state, Komrosky said, "I had control, I did take some money from that chapter and used it for my own personal use."

Komrosky was originally accused of embezzling more than $20,000 between 1998 and 2001 from the local chapter and another group, the Montana Walleye Circuit.

In exchange for the guilty plea, the state dropped the charge of theft from the Walleye Circuit, saying that Komrosky faces no further criminal action due to a lack of evidence.

The amount originally estimated to have been stolen from the Walleye Circuit was just over $3,000, while the local chapter loss is estimated at $17,500.

A past chat room host on Walleye Central Online, Komrosky claims Fort Peck as his "home waters." He scored in the top 20 in the 2000 and 2001 Governor's Cup walleye fishing tournament held there annually, according to the Web site Walleye Central.

Komrosky is also a registered pro member of the National Professional Anglers Association who says he fishes the Professional Walleye Trail and the Professional Musky Tournament Trail, according to his profile on the NPAA Web site.

Komrosky was warned by Judge John Warner that although the criminal charges were dropped, he may still face civil action on behalf of the Walleye Circuit, a statewide group that runs Montana walleye tournaments.

Warner also reminded Komrosky that the court is not bound by the plea agreement, which calls for a three-year deferred sentence and restitution to the local walleye chapter.

Komrosky has been released on his own recognizance and is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 2.