Ronan man sentenced

A Ronan man was sentenced Thursday for breaking into two Bigfork businesses — part of a string of burglaries that spanned three western Montana counties.

During a hearing Thursday morning, Flathead County District Court Judge Stewart Stadler followed the sentencing recommended by a plea agreement and sentenced Cote Wheeler, 21, to 10 years in the Montana Department of Corrections with five years suspended, which will run concurrent to his sentences in Missoula and Lake counties for additional burglary charges.

It was also recommended he attend boot camp.

During a hearing June 4, Wheeler 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, and then lighting a dresser on fire. The fire quickly spread and consumed the structure.

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan said arson charges were dropped because 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.

Reporter Melissa Weaver may be reached at 758-4441 or at mweaver@dailyinterlake.com