Man pleads innocent to gold heist

The Daily Inter Lake

The second of four men charged with stealing a safe containing tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gold coins from an Evergreen home has pleaded innocent to the heist.

Quinn Brockman, 19, entered not-guilty pleas to burglary and felony theft during his arraignment Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

Three other 19-year-old men have been arrested in connection with the burglary.

Ben Therrien pleaded not guilty April 16 to accountability to burglary and felony theft.

Lance Gendreau, who also is charged with accountability to burglary and felony theft, and Chris Nicodemus, who is charged with burglary and felony theft, have yet to be arraigned.

According to court documents, the four men are responsible for the March 29 burglary of a Willow Drive home. Therrien reportedly knew about the safe from one of the alleged victim's family members.

The exact value of the items taken has yet to be determined, but reports suggest they are worth upwards of $50,000.

After breaking in through a window, the men removed the safe from the home, emptied it out at Therrien's residence, and then dumped it in the river, prosecutors allege.

Therrien was arrested after investigators received an anonymous tip naming him and his three co-defendants.

In interviews with detectives, Therrien admitted to knowing about the burglary and to driving Brockman and Nicodemus to the house to steal the safe.

A one-ounce gold coin was found in Therrien's pocket, court papers say.

If convicted, each defendant could face up to 30 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.