'Coin Caper' found innocent

Hall’s jeweler acquitted; not-guilty verdict for both charges

Once dubbed the “Coin Caper,” Randal Johns, 46, was acquitted of all felony-theft charges Friday afternoon for the 2010 alleged crime at Hall’s Jewelry store.

After more than one year since former jewelry-store owner, Greg Hall, reported items missing from his store to Libby Police Department (LPD), this case has finally been closed — at least it has for the defendant Johns.

The case began in October 2010 after Hall realized some gold coins, supposedly placed in a locked-bank bag, were missing. The crime was later blamed on Johns who worked for Hall as a part-time goldsmith.

Kalispell public defenenders, Courtney Nolan and John Putikka, represented the defendant, Johns — the plaintiff in this case was the state of Montana, represented by deputy-county attorney Robert Slomski.

Key witnesses included two former Hall’s employees, Hall, LPD officer Terry Watson and a company-insurance agent. There were no witnesses called to testify, supporting Johns’ testimony.

Throughout the trial, beginning Jan. 23, jurors were asked to consider a number of factors in the case.

Timelines were demonstrated by the state indicating the dates Johns visited Jerry Hersman, the owner of Rocky  Mountain Music and Collectibles, to sell him scrap gold, coins and two rings.

Key points by the defense included:

• Why would Johns sign his name to receipts from Rocky Mountain Music if the items he sold were stolen?

• Why did Hall wait till October to report the items he realized were missing in September?

• Why did Hall amend his tax returns to reflect more money/inventory?

• According to former employees, inventory for the store was always done in January — Hall asked for a special inventory in June 2010. Only coins were counted.

• Why was the missing yogo sapphire ring not reported to the police?

• Hall claimed to have the sapphire ring for 16 years, however, it cannot be found in any inventory. The ring was reported to the insurance company.

• The ring was also reported missing six months after the intial reports were filed.

Closing arguments began mid-morning Friday.

Slomski asked the jurors to examine, not how many coins were stolen, just the facts that there were coins stolen and sold by Johns — exceeding the felony-charge amount of $1,500.

Slomski tried to create doubt in the minds of the jurors.

“We all know how insurance companies are,” Slomski said. “They do not pay-out on fraudulant claims.”

“The insurance company does not think Hall’s claim is insurance fraud.”

Slomski demonstrated points including:

• Why didn’t Johns sell his personal inventory of scrap gold before he began working at Hall’s Jewelry?

• According to the dates items were sold by Johns, to Rocky Mountain Music, the sales took place approximately every two-to-three days a week for a total of 23 transactions in a three-month timespan.

• Why doesn’t the defendent, Johns have any witnesses to support his testimony?

The jury deliberated during their lunch break, it was a matter of hours before their verdict was read.

Johns was tried for two counts of felony theft, he was found ‘not-guilty’ by the jury.