Мужчину из Айдахо арестовали за два ограбления автомобилей в Джексоне

Jeannette has worked as an editor and journalist in the Greater Yellowstone Region for more than 20 years. She finds excitement and joy in watching her children explore wild places with her husband, Brad, and their red heeler, Rosie. An Idaho Falls man is facing one felony burglary charge and one misdemeanor theft charge after prosecutors say he entered two vehicles in the same Jackson neighborhood before dawn on June 4. Prosecutors allege Michael Jason Martinez, 45, stole over $100 in cash and foreign currency from one vehicle, the misdemeanor theft charge, which could land him six months in jail, a $750 fine or both. But Martinez could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for entering a second vehicle, even though prosecutors say he didn’t take anything from that car. That’s the felony charge. Under Wyoming law, burglary occurs when a person unlawfully enters a building or vehicle with the intent to commit theft or another felony. Prosecutors do not have to prove property was actually stolen. Martinez is scheduled to be arraigned July 7 in Teton County District Court, a higher court that sees felonies. At his initial appearance on June 8, Teton County Circuit Court Judge Erin Weisman set his bond at $10,000 cash or surety. Martinez remains in the Teton County Jail. A homeowner called 911 around 4:13 a.m. June 4 after hearing noises outside his home in the neighborhood off West Angus Drive, according to a probable cause affidavit. Security camera footage allegedly showed a man wearing a green hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap carrying a flashlight as he approached the homeowner’s unlocked vehicle, the affidavit says. The man opened the driver’s door, searched the interior for about 17 seconds, then walked away. When officers contacted Martinez nearby, he denied entering the driveway or the vehicle and said he was looking for his bike. Deputies, however, noted he was wearing clothing matching the surveillance video and had a flashlight attached to his wrist. The homeowner who called the police later told deputies the vehicle contained no valuables because the family had emptied it earlier. Investigators later connected Martinez to a second vehicle burglary — the one involving roughly $100 in cash — reported nearby that same morning, according to the affidavit. A nearby homeowner reported that about $20 in U.S. currency and approximately $100 worth of euros had been stolen from her vehicle. She also said her debit card had been charged twice for a sum of roughly $150 each time. The homeowner told police her debit card had been inside the vehicle but was not taken and still in her possession, according to the probable cause affidavit. During Martinez’s booking, deputies found that he was carrying a total of $176, $140-worth of euros and $50-worth of Belize dollars, according to the affidavit. Investigators cited the cash along with proximity to the incidents in linking him to the theft. The probable cause does not account for the remaining $16 in cash that was also found on Martinez during his jail booking. Martinez is represented by Senior Public Defender Elisabeth Trefonas, who declined comment. Teton County Prosecutor Dick Stout did not respond to a request for comment. Jeannette has worked as an editor and journalist in the Greater Yellowstone Region for more than 20 years. She finds excitement and joy in watching her children explore wild places with her husband, Brad, and their red heeler, Rosie. Please note: Online comments may also run in our print publications. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. Please turn off your CAPS LOCK. No personal attacks. Discuss issues & opinions rather than denigrating someone with an opposing view. No political attacks. Refrain from using negative slang when identifying political parties. Be truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be proactive. Use the “Report” link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts or history behind an article. Use your real name: Anonymous commenting is not allowed. . The News&Guide welcomes comments from our paid subscribers. Tell us what you think. Thanks for engaging in the conversation!