Man pleads not guilty to truck theft

A Polson man is accused of helping himself to a truck that doesn’t belong to him. Seth Houston Dean Williams, 32, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court Sept. 27 to felony theft.

According to court records, on July 31, Lake County’s 911 center received a call from a citizen concerned about a person passed out in a truck that was parked partially in the lane of traffic on Rocky Butte Road in the Ronan area. A deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded and located a truck with a construction company’s name on the side, partially blocking traffic where the citizen said it would be.

The driver, identified as Williams, told the deputy “I’m probably in trouble.” He explained that he had been in an argument with his girlfriend the night before and went for a walk. He came upon the truck parked at 17th Avenue between 1st Street East and 2nd Street West in Polson. He said the keys were in it so he “just hopped in.”

The truck, a 2013 Toyota Tundra, has an estimated value of $14,000.

Judge Molly Owen set the case for trial March 4. Williams remains in the Lake County Jail with bond set at $25,000. He is also being held for violating conditions of release stemming from a prior conviction.