Whitefish housekeeper, two others facing burglary charges

A Whitefish woman asked Flathead District Court Judge Heidi Ulbricht on Thursday to keep her former housekeeper behind bars after the housekeeper and two others allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of property from her family’s home.

Marjorie Marie James, 40, asked for a reduction in the amount of bail that would have to be posted for her to leave jail. Bail was originally set at $20,000 for a case in which she is charged with one count of felony burglary and one count of felony theft. She has been jailed since Aug. 17 in the case.

James had allegedly been the housekeeper of a Whitefish home for approximately one year before Whitefish police found the home to be burglarized on April 12. According to court documents, the burglary was discovered after a Flathead County sheriff’s deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle without illuminated headlights.

Andrew James Ford, 29, of Kalispell, was allegedly in the vehicle and appeared nervous. When the deputy returned to his patrol car in order to determine the status of the vehicle and Ford’s license, Ford allegedly tried to speed away and ended up crashing through a fence at Northwest Drywall. The fence and vehicle were both extensively damaged. Ford then fled on foot and was eventually apprehended in a grocery store where he was hiding.

Whitefish police determined that the vehicle had been stolen. Officers went to the address listed for the vehicle owners and found the home had been ransacked. The owners were out of town, but on their way home. They found a Toyota FJ Cruiser, stereo equipment, a safe, jewelry and other items had been taken.

Ford allegedly told investigators that he, James and James’ boyfriend Jeremy Marr, 42, had spent approximately eight hours in the home on April 11, determining what of value should be taken. He allegedly admitted that the trio came back to the home on April 12 and stole the items.

Ford is facing two counts of felony burglary and one count of felony theft in the case. Marr is facing one count of felony burglary, one count of felony theft and one count of felony forgery. The forgery resulted after Marr allegedly wrote checks that were taken from the home.

On Thursday, one of the homeowners said she did not want James back out on the street. She said that after the burglary someone called and told her that James was still soliciting housekeeping clients.

“The incident she was involved in has changed our lives dramatically,” the victim testified.

Security lights were installed to help the shaken victims feel safe, but she said having James behind bars was the only way to make her completely safe.

“As long as she is not out, I don’t have concerns for my safety,” the victim told the judge.

Prosecutor Stacy Boman highlighted the fact that James has three misdemeanor convictions from 2008, including obstructing a police officer, possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.

She also worried that James might be back out on the street, advertising her housekeeping business.

“I’m very concerned if Ms. James is back in the community that she will continue to make contacts and build relationships that will allow her to come into their homes, and that she might take advantage of that,” Boman said.

James testified that getting out of jail would allow her to follow through with a chemical dependency evaluation that was paid for by Child Protective Services.

“They are going to terminate my rights to my daughter,” James said of the consequences that could result if she stays in jail.

However, Boman countered by saying that James had missed all of the custody hearings scheduled in regards to her daughter prior to her arrest. James’ attorney said that James did not show up because she was afraid of being arrested on a warrant.

In the end, Ulbricht agreed to reduce bond, but not to let James out on her own recognizance. Bond was set at $10,000 and if James is released, she will be monitored by a global positioning system that will alert authorities if she goes near the alleged victim’s home.

James’ co-defendants Ford and Marr are also residing in the Flathead County jail. Ford’s bail is set at $110,000.

Ford was arrested by Kalispell Police on Aug. 4 after someone reported a garage on Charlotte Avenue had been damaged and broken into. A golf cart and golf clubs were taken. The cost of items taken and damages to the home were estimated to be around $8,100.

Later that day, a woman called from West California Street, saying it appeared a man with a box cutter was trying to come into her home through her window, with one arm already in the house. The man then allegedly told her that she could not go outside because the town was being taken over. The woman allegedly screamed and the man fled.

About a block away Ford was found on a golf cart. He allegedly told officers that he had been warning people about the town being taken over. He’s charged with felony criminal mischief, felony burglary and felony theft in that case.

All three defendants are set for trial next year in the Whitefish burglary case.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.