Actor in LDS comedies pleads no contest to theft

PROVO — A man who starred in LDS comedies such as "Singles Ward," "The Home Teachers" and "Sons of Provo" has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of theft.

Actor Michael Birkeland, 37, agreed to plead no contest in 4th District Court Wednesday after prosecutors reduced a third-degree felony to a class A misdemeanor.

He will be sentenced Nov. 19.

Birkeland was arrested in July after Utah Valley University police officers linked him with the theft of a computer from a classroom.

Police said on April 3, Birkeland was a guest attending an art class and began using a computer belonging to the professor.

When Birkeland left that day, the computer was missing, police said.

A few days later, the instructor identified Birkeland, who was using an Internet communications site and the computer's built-in camera, according to court documents.

When the owner contacted Birkeland about returning the computer, police say Birkeland covered the camera and tried to hide his identity.

Police recovered the computer at a gift shop at Thanksgiving Point and spent several weeks trying to track him down.

— Sara Israelsen-Hartley