Fortine man to spend two years in prison

Vincent Brown, a 19-year-old Fortine man, will spend two years in the cutody of the Montana Department of Corrections for failing to abide by the terms of a deferred sentence.

The charges stem from incidents that took place in October and November of 2014, according to charging documents filed in Montana’s 19th Judicial District Court. In the documents, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Holskey said he arrested Brown while performing a search of his residence in Fortine with Eureka City Police Officer Clint Heintz. He reported finding a laptop computer in the residence that matched the description of one reported stolen from another Fortine home in October.

Brown originally said he had the computer for a while, but confessed to stealing it when the owner of his residence asked him about it. Brown further confessed to stealing guns and ammunition from the same house as the computer.

When Holskey brought Brown in for questioning, Brown described in detail how he procured the items.

On the weekend between Oct. 16 and Oct. 20, Brown had been walking through the woods when he came upon a house. He knocked on the door to verify that the house was vacant, and then entered the house by prying open a window. Once inside, he searched the house for things he could steal and then sell for money.

According to charging documents submitted to the court, Brown also stole several pieces of electrical equipment and money from another house on Nov. 17, 2014.

An estimate on the court documents states that Brown stole more than $3,000 worth of property.

Brown was arrested on two felony counts: one of burglary, and one of theft. If convicted on all counts, Brown was facing up to 30 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.

In March, Brown and his attorney, Public Defender William Managhan, submitted a plea agreement to Judge James Wheelis. Pursuant to the agreement, Brown pleaded guilty to the theft charge and the state dropped all other charges. Brown received a two-year deferred sentence, during which time, he would be on probation.

Officer Darrell Vanderhoef of Adult Probation and Parole said Brown failed to file regular reports and requested a petition to revoke the deferred sentence. Lincoln County Attorney Bernard Cassidy filed a petition to revoke Brown’s probation in October 2015.

In court, Brown said he was unable to appear due to adverse weather conditions, financial issues and transportation availability. Brown expressed a belief that he made a conscientious effort to make reports to his officer. However, Vanderhoef said that he would not recommend allowing Brown to stay on probation. Wheelis agreed with Vanderhoef’s recommendation and remanded Brown to custody.