Robbery trial gets under way

Kyle Kolb, 20, is accused of stealing from two men Jan. 15

At 2:30 in the morning Jan. 15, a 911 call to Whitefish police was made by a hysterical, crying man.

That man, Brian Hughes, says he and a friend were jumped in their motel room by three other men they had befriended at a bar. The trio hit them, took their money, and threatened to shoot them.

One of the three men, Kyle Kolb, 20, has a different version of the events. He is accused of robbery and is on trial this week in Flathead District Court in Kalispell.

In opening statements to the jury Monday, Deputy County Attorney Lori Adams said Hughes and Matt Madsen had gone to Whitefish from Missoula to ski.

They met Kolb, Brett Johnson, and Jacob Hogsett at a bar in Whitefish. The three men offered to give the Missoula man a ride back to Motel 6. On the way, two of the men offered to sell Hughes some marijuana, Adams said. They stopped at a bank ATM and Hughes withdrew $200 at 2:19 a.m., according to bank records, she said.

The five men went to the motel room. When inside the door, "It's on, right away," Adams said.

Madsen was forced down onto a bed and hit. Hughes was put in a headlock, struck, and relieved of the money from his wallet. At one point, one of the men said, "Give me the .44 because I want to kill this [deleted]," Adams said.

The men ran out of the motel, pursued by Hughes, who dented Kolb's truck and recorded his license-plate number, Adams said.

Hughes received medical treatment at North Valley Hospital for his injuries.

A policeman later stopped Kolb's truck. He found $203 in Kolb's possession. In an interview with police, Kolb said he and his friends plotted the robbery, Adams said.

Kolb's attorney, Scott Hilderman, said the jury will find that the alleged victims in the case "are admitted liars. They gave more false statements … than you can shake a stick at."

Kolb cooperated with police from the beginning and consented to whatever searches they requested.

The alleged victims, though, "have about six different versions of their story."

At one point, they said their passports, a debit card and marijuana were stolen during the robbery. Later, they said they found those items had not been taken.

At the beginning, Hughes and Madsen insisted that no drug deal had been involved in that night's activities. Later, they said Hughes had agreed to buy marijuana from the three men.

Jurors heard from Madsen on Monday. Hughes is scheduled to testify today.

They will also hear Hughes' 911 call and statements given to police.

"All they can prove is there was an altercation in that room," Hilderman said.

The trial is scheduled to last through Wednesday in the court of District Judge Kitty Curtis.

Kolb's alleged accomplices are scheduled for trial later.