Lincoln Co. man pleads guilty to stealing expensive bike

A Lincoln County man pleaded guilty last week in Lincoln County District Court to stealing an expensive mountain bike earlier this year.

District Judge Matt Cuffe accepted the plea of 37-year-old Brenton Keith Erickson on Sept. 26.

Erickson, who appeared on video from the county jail, originally faced felony theft and attempted escape charges as well as a count of misdemeanor obstructing an officer. The escape and obstruction charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal with the county.

Erickson is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7. According to court documents, Erickson is facing a 5-year suspended sentence, which is a joint recommendation between Deputy County Attorney Jeffrey Zwang and public defender Scott B. Johnson. Felony theft carries a maximum punishment of 10 years with the Montana State Prison and a $10,000 fine.

During the Aug. 26 hearing, Erickson told Cuffe he could pay restitution, fines and fees that may be part of the sentencing. The deal also calls for Erickson to complete in-patient addiction treatment.

According to an affidavit, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies began closing in on Erickson after finding the bicycle outside of a Libby grocery store March 31. The bicycle belonged to the son of a local police officer and had vanished March 14 while its owner went horn hunting in the Jennings Haul Road area.

Court documents described the bicycle as a Stumpjumper Pro 27.5, which retails for several thousand dollars.

Deputies Andrew Smith and Steve Short confirmed the bicycle belonged to the police officer’s son after finding an intact serial number on it at about 7:15 p.m. Meanwhile Libby Police officer Ian Smith searched the store for the individual who came in on the stolen bicycle.

Outside, the deputies looked up from the bicycle to spot a man running south out of the store and toward East Cedar Street. Ian Smith chased the man, according to the affidavit.

Andrew Smith hopped into his cruiser and joined the chase, trying to intercept the fleeing man. The suspect ran onto private property on Minnesota Avenue in response, but the resident there got in his way and tripped him up. Law enforcement personnel cuffed him soon afterward, according to the affidavit.

Authorities identified the man as Erickson and took him to the Lincoln County Detention Center while the deputies seized the stolen bicycle.

Shortly after arriving in the county jail, authorities say Erickson tried to escape. Detention officer Grant Martin wrote in an affidavit that Erickson claimed to have severe leg pain upon arrival. He asked for a doctor as they searched him and then for a cup of water.

After finishing the first cup, he asked for a refill, according to court documents. Martin wrote that he kept an eye on Erickson as he poured more water. Erickson leapt up — showing no signs of pain, Martin wrote — and tried to escape the detention center, court documents said.

Martin caught up with him and brought him to the floor. He handcuffed Erickson again with the help of two other detention center officers. Deputies also arrived to lend aid, court documents said.