Pablo resident charged with burglarizing Ronan Schools

A Pablo man, who was awaiting sentencing for burglary, is facing new burglary charges involving the Ronan Schools.

Cody Sundown Adams, 31, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court Dec. 7 to two counts of burglary, theft and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, all felonies.

According to charging documents, on Nov. 12, a faculty member of the Ronan School District contacted law enforcement to report a burglary at the District’s maintenance building.

Video surveillance at the school showed a Ford F-250 pick-up parked near the maintenance building the night before. A person wearing overalls with a torn-out leg exited the pick-up and entered the building. A short time later, the overall-clad suspect left the building with a chainsaw and other items.

Then, in the early morning hours of Nov. 12, several hours after the first burglary, two men were seen entering the building, one wearing the same overalls as before, with his face visible. A short time later, two pick-ups, a 2010 Dodge Dakota and a 2011 Ford F-350, were seen exiting the building. Both vehicles are owned by the Ronan School District and no one was authorized to use either vehicle on that day.

On Nov. 21, law enforcement located the Ford F-350 covered with a tarp and brush in the woods near the residence of Adams’ brother. The brother is the registered owner of the F-250 seen parked near the maintenance building from the Nov. 21 surveillance video.

Some of the items taken from the maintenance building were recovered from the F-250. The brother indicated that Adams borrowed the F-250 on Nov. 11 and 12.

Adams was arrested on an outstanding warrant Nov. 13. He was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine. He was already charged with two counts of burglary for allegedly breaking into a shop along State Highway 35, once on Jan. 22 and again Feb. 18. He entered into a plea agreement in that matter that would have dismissed one of the burglary charges.

Adams was set to be sentenced Dec. 7 in accordance with that plea agreement, but that agreement, which called for the imposition of sentencing being deferred for three years, has been set aside due to the new charges.

Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set a new sentencing date on the old case of Feb. 15, the same day as the “omnibus” or “pre-trial” hearing on the new charges. A trial date is set for April 8. Adams remains at liberty.