Men plead innocent to coin, cash theft

The Daily Inter Lake

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

Lance Gendreau, 19, pleaded not guilty to accountability to burglary and felony theft and Chris Nicodemus, 19, pleaded not guilty to burglary and felony theft during their arraignments Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

Two other 19-year-old men already have pleaded innocent to the alleged burglary.

Ben Therrien pleaded not guilty April 16 to accountability to burglary and felony theft and Quinn Brockman pleaded not guilty April 30 to burglary and felony theft.

According to court documents, the four men are responsible for planning and executing 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.