Busy Kalispell burglar pleads guilty
A Kalispell man has been convicted of committing two separate strings of daylight break-ins to homes in the Foy's Lake area.
On Thursday in Flathead County District Court, Roger Alfredo Vargas, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of felony theft.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors recommend Vargas be ordered to serve five years in Montana State Prison (20 years with 15 years suspended) and that he not be eligible for parole.
Vargas, who is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center, is scheduled to be sentenced March 26.
Sixteen felony charges, including 14 for burglary, were dropped pursuant to a plea agreement.
During brief testimony during his change-of-plea hearing Thursday, Vargas agreed to pay restitution to all of his victims.
Vargas was most recently arrested in late October 2008 after a Foy's Lake Road resident woke up to a man burglarizing his home. Responding Flathead County Sheriff's deputies came across a man fitting the suspect's description fleeing from another home nearby and arrested Vargas on Lone Pine Road after a short foot pursuit.
Investigators say 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.
A search of Vargas' home revealed stolen computers, video game systems, coins and firearms.
Investigators also found nine marijuana plants, prompting prosecutors to charge Vargas with the manufacture of dangerous drugs, a felony. That charge was dismissed Thursday.
When he was arrested in October 2008, Vargas was free on house arrest pending trial on previously filed burglary and theft charges.
Investigators say Vargas, who had an accomplice during some of the break-ins, burglarized homes on Shelter Valley Drive, Foy's Lake Road, Foy's Canyon Road, Two Mile Drive, and Airport Road between November 2007 and mid-January 2008.
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. He reportedly was staying nearby.
Assault-with-a-weapon charges, filed after Vargas allegedly pointed a gun at two women in November 2007, also were dismissed Thursday.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com