Man pleads not guilty to stealing pot plants
A Kalispell man pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to taking marijuana plants from the apartment of a medical marijuana patient later found bludgeoned to death.
Joshua Fritz, 21, appeared in Flathead County District Court on charges of burglary, evidence tampering and obstructing a peace officer. The charges are connected to the beating death last month of 49-year-old Wesley Collins.
Fritz and Robert Allen Lake, also 21 and of Kalispell, were seen taking marijuana plants from the apartment of Collins.
Lake and Jeffrey Allen Nixon, 19, of Kalispell face felony charges of deliberate homicide, robbery and tampering with physical evidence.
According to court documents, on April 17 as Kalispell Police officers investigated a burglary at Collins’ residence, Fritz and Lake jumped from an apartment window and attempted to flee. They were subsequently taken into custody.
During the investigation, Karrolyn Robinson, 19, Lake’s common-law wife, admitted entering Collins’ residence with Lake and Fritz to remove the marijuana plants, weight equipment and other personal items belonging to Collins.
She also reportedly told law enforcement that Fritz had Collins’ bicycle and cell phone and that Fritz was living in her apartment.
In Robinson’s apartment, officers located three marijuana plants and numerous personal items belonging to Collins, including a flat screen TV, tools, weight equipment and prescription medication.
When officers reviewed text messages between Fritz and Robinson, they learned Fritz apparently had stolen Collins’ cell phone and disposed of it during the pursuit.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty to charges of theft, burglary and tampering with evidence.
Cody Naldrett, 27, of Kalispell allegedly helped Lake and Nixon remove Collins’ body from his apartment and drag it into the woods. He faces felony charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Naldrett, Lake and Nixon pleaded innocent May 6.
Fritz, Robinson, Lake, Nixon and Naldrett remain in custody at the Flathead County Detention Center.
Fritz’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8.