Sigea reaches plea deal with prosecutors on burglary charge

A Libby man already serving three years for drug and paraphernalia possession pleaded guilty to a single count of burglary in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 30.

Dylan Tyler Sigea, 19, changed his plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Authorities originally charged him with two counts of burglary and two counts of theft, all felonies.

Sigea came under suspicion after detectives with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a Florence Road burglary April 10. Detective Kirk Kraft, writing in an affidavit, said he suspected the thief used an unlocked side door to break into the homeowner’s shop.

The burglar also likely used the victim’s wheelbarrow to haul off stolen goods, including a Stihl chainsaw, according to the affidavit. Kraft found a partial boot print left in sawdust while canvassing the scene.

But the big break came as Kraft left. He spotted a wheelbarrow matching the description of the victim’s left outside a nearby garage.

The detective contacted Undersheriff Brad Dodson with the information. Dodson confirmed that Tom Sigea’s vehicle had been parked at that garage the night prior.

Kraft met with the homeowner, who told authorities that she let Tom Sigea and his son, Dylan, use the garage to do work on her property. During a subsequent search of the property, Kraft found the stolen chainsaw, court documents said.

He also found items linked to other burglaries, according to court documents.

Suspicion fell on Dylan Sigea after authorities spoke with Tom, who admitted to using the garage, but denied a role in the thefts or burglaries.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will recommend that Sigea serve three years of a 10-year sentence. It will run concurrent with the three-year sentence Sigea received after a jury convicted him on criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia charges.

In that case, which dates back to May 2018, authorities found a slew of drugs and paraphernalia in Sigea’s possession after a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 2.

Sigea is due back in court Jan. 27 for his sentencing hearing.