Arson charge dropped

After admitting to breaking into two Bigfork businesses — part of a string of burglaries that spanned three Western Montana counties — a Ronan man will not face arson charges.

Last week in Flathead County District Court, Cote Wheeler, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony burglary for breaking into and stealing almost $200 from Brookies Cookies on Oct. 27, 2008, and taking stereo components and swords from a Stonewall Storage unit on Dec. 25, 2008.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped a felony arson charge and another burglary charge against Wheeler.

He had been accused of entering the Echo Lake Store on Dec. 2, 2008, grabbing cigarettes and some candy bars, then lighting a dresser on fire. The fire quickly spread and consumed the structure.

“I would love to have been able to hold him accountable,” Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan said this week.

He said Wheeler’s one-time confession to the arson was the only evidence tying him to that crime, but the confession was inadmissible in court because Wheeler did not have a lawyer at the interview during which he confessed.

Wheeler did not repeat the confession during subsequent questioning by different law enforcement agencies.

The store’s owner has been reimbursed by the insurance company and didn’t suffer any out-of-pocket costs aside from a deductible, Corrigan said.

Prosecutors recommended Wheeler receive a 10-year sentence to the Montana Department of Corrections with five years suspended.

Wheeler also has been convicted in connection to a long string of burglaries in Lake and Missoula counties.

He remains in custody at the Flathead County Detention Center awaiting a sentencing hearing June 17.