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Teen sentenced for marina heist

by Keith Kinnaird News Editor
| December 13, 2013 6:00 AM

SANDPOINT — One of two Sandpoint teens implicated in boat burglaries at Sandpoint Marina was ordered Tuesday to serve at least 16 days in juvenile detention, but refused to implicate alleged accomplices in the heists.

Jesse James Tompkins, 17, told the court he did not want to be labeled a “rat”  and a “snitch” or risk being beaten up for identifying his alleged confederates, court documents show.

Tompkins was charged with petty theft and burglary in connection with three boat burglaries on July 24. He became a suspect after Matthew Abeyta, 15, betrayed him to Sandpoint Police, according to police reports.

Abeyta was the first suspect to be identified in a rash of thefts that vexed boat owners and marina operators last summer. Marina staff created mug shot of Abeyta using the facility’s video surveillance system and posted it at the marina.

Three people who saw the photo identified Abeyta as the suspect and he allegedly confessed to his involvement after being confronted by police. Abeyta identified Tompkins as an accomplice during his confession, police reports indicate in the cases indicate.

Abeyta is also charged with petty theft and burglary. Abeyta’s court-appointed defense counsel argued that his statements to police should be suppressed because they were a product of police coercion and were therefore not made voluntarily.

Bonner County Magistrate Court Judge Lori Meulenberg, however, disagreed and denied the defense motion to suppress, court records show. An adjudicatory hearing in Abeyta’s case is set for Dec. 31.

A marina official testified on Tuesday that 90 boats at the marina were rifled through at the height of boating season. Considerable staff time was expended poring over surveillance footage, notifying boat owners of the security breaches and trying to allay their concerns, the woman told the court.

One of the theft victims bristled at a recommended five-day custodial sentence and expressed frustration that the two teens’ accomplices stand to get away scot-free, which may embolden their criminal activities in the future.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall recommended a 16-day sentence, which Meulenberg adopted.

All told, Tompkins received 270 days in detention, 16 of which will be served over the Christmas break. He faces up to 20 additional days of unscheduled discretionary incarceration. Tompkins was given credit for one day in detention he’s already served and 233 days were suspended.