Boy faces new charge

A 12-year-old Hungry Horse boy facing a large list of charges — one for escaping from the Flathead Juvenile Detention Center — has been charged in another case.

James Smith now is being charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass to property.

Including the new charge, he is charged with seven felonies and 14 misdemeanors: three felony counts of burglary, two felony counts of theft, a felony count of attempted burglary, a felony count of escape, nine misdemeanor counts of theft, four misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and criminal trespass.

According to a court document, a Helena Flats Road resident and his wife were sleeping on May 24, 2012, when they woke to the sound of an all-terrain vehicle approaching their property. The husband then heard footsteps on his porch and got up to investigate.

The man allegedly found Smith standing in his living room and told police that Smith “looked very surprised to see him.” Smith then reportedly said he needed to use the phone after the man asked him what he was doing, then left through the sliding-glass door.

The resident did not contact police until Aug. 31, after seeing Smith’s photo in The Daily Inter Lake.

He told police he immediately recognized Smith as the person who had entered his home and that he wanted to press charges.

The alleged crimes that led to Smith’s first 15 charges occurred between April 27 and June 6. Also accused in some of those crimes are Mathew Hauck, 15, a relative of Smith, and Skyla Komeotis, 16.  

His escape occurred on Aug. 29 but Smith was recaptured three hours after breaking out of the juvenile detention center.