Man pleads innocent to series of burglaries
Suspect facing 18 felony charges
By NICHOLAS LEDDEN/Daily Inter Lake
A Kalispell man has pleaded innocent to a string of daylight burglaries in the Foy's Lake area.
During his arraignment Thursday in Flathead County District Court, Roger Alfredo Vargas, 21, entered not-guilty pleas to nine counts of burglary.
Prosecutors allege Vargas broke into homes on Foy's Lake Road, Lone Pine Road, Terrace Road, Segiah Way, Scovel Lane, Orchard Ridge Road, Lower Valley Road, Willow Glen Drive, Shelter Valley Drive, and Hartt Hill Drive between Oct. 8 and Oct. 29.
The newest allegations bring the total number of felony charges pending against Vargas to 18, including 15 for burglary. He also faces drug and assault charges.
According to court documents, Flathead County Sheriff's deputies responded to Foy's Lake Road at 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 29 after a resident woke up to a man burglarizing his home. When a man fitting the suspect's description was seen fleeing from another home nearby, deputies gave chase and arrested Vargas on Lone Pine Road after a short foot pursuit.
During interviews with investigators, Vargas admitted burglarizing three homes in the Foy's Lake area Oct. 29, court papers show.
Investigators searched Vargas' home and recovered stolen computers, video game systems, coins, and firearms. The property allegedly connected Vargas to the other six October burglaries.
They also found nine marijuana plants, prompting prosecutors to charge Vargas with the manufacture of dangerous drugs, a felony. Vargas pleaded not guilty Thursday to that charge.
When he was arrested on Oct. 29, Vargas was free on house arrest pending trial on previously filed burglary and theft charges.
Defense attorneys did not challenge the prosecution's motion Thursday to revoke Vargas' release on house arrest. He is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Prosecutors allege Vargas broke into six homes on Shelter Valley Drive, Foy's Lake Road, Foy's Canyon Road and Two Mile Drive between November 2007 and mid-January.
Vargas, who had an accomplice during some of those break-ins, pleaded innocent in February to six counts of burglary and one count of theft, all felonies.
Items reported stolen during the first string of burglaries included cameras, a TV, a rifle with a scope, an iPod, knives, jewelry, a coin collection, prescription medication, a computer and a snowboard. The value of items missing from the homes exceeded $4,500, according to court papers.
Vargas was arrested and charged with the burglaries after a witness saw him walking away from one of the burglarized homes in January. Vargas reportedly was staying nearby.
A conviction for burglary carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Vargas also is facing one count of assault with a weapon after he allegedly pointed a gun at two women in November 2007. He pleaded innocent to that charge in January.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com