Local burglary suspects plead innocent

Two people accused of participating in the burglary of a Buffalo Hill Drive home pleaded not guilty to felony charges May 3 in Flathead District Court.

Mandi Anderson, 26, Kalispell, pleaded not guilty to felony burglary stemming from a June 16, 2011, incident in which Anderson is alleged to have stolen a video game system and several other items from the home of her ex-boyfriend.

Derrick Jackson, 26, Kalispell, also pleaded not guilty to felony burglary, but his charge was for his involvement in the alleged Buffalo Hill Drive burglary.

According to court documents, Anderson and Jackson were both seen by his brother on April 10 inside the home of Anderson’s uncle. The brother reported them to police. The homeowner was at the hospital with his wife, who was giving birth at the time of the burglary.

Officers responded and saw several window screens had been removed and were leaning against the house. Inside, officers discovered that valuables including coins and jewelry were strewn throughout the residence.

Court documents state Jackson was found behind some trees in the neighborhood, and that he admitted to police that he and Anderson had entered the house without permission. He allegedly had 21 $2 bills from the home.

Jackson was arrested at the scene.

Anderson was arrested on April 17 after being reported twice by her mother — once for taking her car and once for returning to her house after police returned the car, which Anderson had abandoned. At the time, she was wanted on a bench warrant related to traffic violations as well as warrants for both burglaries.

Anderson was released on her own recognizance just nine hours later, although Jackson remained in jail on a $30,000 bond despite being the secondary alleged offender in the Buffalo Hill Drive case. Anderson has not yet been charged in that case.

She is now in jail on a $25,000 bond after being arrested in court after entering her plea. A bench warrant authorizing the arrest was entered the following day.

If convicted, Anderson faces up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $50,000. Jackson faces the same for.

The next hearings for Anderson and Jackson are scheduled for July 18.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.