Suspect in mischief, theft cases picks up bail jumping charge

Prosecutors have filed a bail jumping charge against a 21-year-old accused of stealing a dirt bike from a Kalispell repair shop in February and later breaking into a U.S. 2 garden center after he skipped out on a hearing in Flathead County District Court. 

Asher Alan McAlpine-Dixon of Kalispell was expected to appear before Judge Dan Wilson on Oct. 17 for a scheduled pretrial conference in his theft case, but never showed up, court records indicated. At the request of Deputy County Attorney Larissa Malloy, Wilson issued a bench warrant for McAlpine-Dixon’s arrest, setting bail at $5,000. 

Malloy filed the felony bail jumping charge against McAlpine-Dixon that same day, writing in an affidavit that he was released from custody on Sept. 8, but required to make all court appearances and remain in contact with his defense attorney. 

McAlpine-Dixon’s last known address is listed as an apartment on Appleway Drive in Kalispell. Bail jumping is punishable by up to 10 years in Montana State Prison. 

The theft case stems from the disappearance of a dirt bike with an estimated value of between $2,500 and $3,500 from a West Center Street shop on Feb. 25, according to court documents. While the thief spray painted security cameras at the repair center, footage from nearby buildings captured a Chevrolet Z71 passing by with an item resembling a dirt bike under a tarp in the pickup’s bed, court documents said. 

Kalispell Police officers tracked down the pickup on Feb. 27 and learned from the driver that her boyfriend also used the vehicle. McAlpine-Dixon allegedly later contacted investigators, telling them that he found a discarded or misplaced dirt bike off of a trail on Feb. 25. At their behest, he returned the stolen dirt bike on Feb. 27, court documents said. 

Investigators noted in court documents that McAlpine-Dixon failed to contact authorities about the dirt bike prior to them speaking with his girlfriend and never posted information about its discovery on social media, as he told the police he had planned to do. Several stickers affixed to the dirt bike at the time of its theft were also missing, court documents said. 

He pleaded not guilty to the felony charge at his March arraignment. 

McAlpine-Dixon picked up a criminal mischief charge in late summer after officers allegedly found him while responding to a trespass complaint at a U.S. 2 garden center near Kalispell. According to court documents, officers found McAlpine-Dixon hiding beneath a tarp between two greenhouses.

In September, McAlpine-Dixon pleaded not guilty to the felony charge.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.