Washington man accused of several Libby area thefts

A former Libby man, now living in Washington, is accused of several break-ins and thefts from Libby area businesses that occurred in a span of nearly two months this spring.

Andrew Tyler Watts, 23, of Port Angeles, is charged with a total of six counts of theft, including two felonies and four misdemeanors after a lengthy investigation by officers in the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. He was released on his own recognizance.

Watts was arraigned on the charges on Oct. 10 and pleaded not guilty. District Judge Mike Cuffe ordered Watts to report to the county jail to have his fingerprints taken and be photographed after a request by Lincoln County Attorney Marcia Boris.

Watts’ next court hearing is set for Nov. 27.

The first alleged incident occurred on March 4 when a woman called to report a theft from Save Rite West. She showed now-retired Kirk Kraft of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office where someone had cut the lock on the side of a service truck body. A Honda gas pump was stolen from the compartment.

The second occurred on March 31 when a man from Libby Christian Church called and reported a theft after someone cut a lock in the mission donation storage and took some donated clothing. The suspect was accused of syphoning diesel fuel out of the school bus. The man said he saw the suspect remove a can of fuel from the bus. A photo of a car at the scene was pulled from security camera footage and Kraft posted it on a platform for law enforcement to share information.

According to the charging document, Kraft matched the vehicle in the photo to a 2013 VW Passat. After working with Deputy Andrew Smith, the officers determined the suspect was Andrew Watt. Smith reported having an encounter with Watt at the vehicle and it was identical to the one in the photo.

According to a narrative by county Detective David Hall, he began assisting deputies with several burglary and theft investigations on April 4.

His report included the thefts of two fish finders and a tolling motor off a boat that was traded in from Dream Marine. The motor was found laying on the ground near the business. When Hall had a closer look he saw that a small paddle lock was cut off the motor so it could be removed from the mount.

Hall then learned from Deputy Kraft that Watts was living in an apartment complex on Dakota Avenue. Kraft reported finding Watt’s vehicle in the overflow lot at the old Cabinet Peaks Hospital building. Det. Hall reported the Passat matches the vehicle seen in security video footage at the church.

In addition, Kraft reported to Environmental Restoration, which is located behind Save Rite West, on the morning of April 4 where someone had broken into trailers. Kraft learned the suspect had been scared off by a witness and dropped the bolt cutters at the scene.

Kraft spoke to the witness who described the vehicle as a four-door car and said it sounded like it had engine problems or was a diesel.

When Lincoln County Dispatch had the state perform a search of maroon-colored Passats registered in Lincoln County, two were found. One belonged to a female U.S. Forest Service employee from Trego who currently lives in Whitefish and the other Passat belonged to Watts.

Hall also reported other stolen property included fish finders, downriggers, a large Honda generator, a trolling motor and a catalytic converter.

On April 4, Hall, Rhodes and Deputy Kraft served a search warrant at 416 Dakota Ave. where Watts lived. Hall said the fish finders, boat motor or generator were not found. Hall’s girlfriend allegedly told the investigator she believed there was meth inside a small safe in the kitchen. She said Watts got mad when she asked him where he was when he was gone at night.

The officers then reported finding a funnel and hose used for siphoning diesel fuel along with other items they believed were part of the thefts.

On the morning of April 26, Captain Boyd White took a report of Milwaukee tools stolen from a work trailer owned by Marozzo Plumbing in Libby at a new building at 118 E. 3rd St. The business owner said someone had cut the lock from his trailer and stolen multiple Milwaukee battery operated tools.

White also learned from another contractor that someone had cut a lock from his construction trailer.

Hall wrote in his report that Watts allegedly pawned two Milwaukee Packout tool boxes in Missoula and received $250.

Hall also learned during the investigation that Watts had allegedly pawned two Husqvarna gas-powered trimmers, including one in Hayden Lake, Idaho and another in Spokane, Washington. When Hall spoke to Watts’ girlfriend on May 1, she turned over a Toro electric blower with “Tungsten” written in black marker on the tool.

Hall returned the blower to Tungsten Holdings and asked them to check their shop. He learned they were missing two Husqvarna trimmers. Hall reported a trimmer was allegedly pawned in Spokane by Watts.

According to Hall’s report, Spokane Police Det. Douglas Strosahl went to the pawn shop on May 9 and photographed a copy of the receipt given to Watts on April 17. Watts photographed a trimmer and a 20-ton hydraulic bottle jack. He seized both items. Then, on May 11, Det. Hall showed a Tungsten employee a photo of the bottle jack. The employee said the jack was bought in Kalispell and was in a tool box on one of the work trucks.

Watts faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in the Montana State Prison on the felony theft charge and one year in the county jail on the misdemeanor.