Man charged with skidder theft
(Photo courtesy BONNER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE) A John Deere skidder similar to the one depicted here was stolen from a job site near Priest River on Aug. 9.
SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man has been charged in connection with the theft of a costly piece of logging equipment earlier this month.
Cody James Sorenson is charged with grand theft. He made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court via videoconferencing with the jail.
Judge Lori Meulenberg set Sorenson’s bail at $1,500 and appointed a public defender to represent him, court records show.
The John Deere model 648 GIII logging skidder was discovered missing from a job site in the 2700 block of Eastside Road northeast of Priest River on Aug. 9. The piece of heavy equipment had an estimated value of $130,000, according to court documents.
Tracks leading from the logging site were discovered in the dirt, although they ended at the pavement of Eastside Road. A search of side roads yielded no additional tracks, a probable cause affidavit said.
The signature-green skidder, however, cut a conspicuous figure on the night it was stolen, according to court documents. Several people told authorities on Aug. 10 that they spotted the piece of equipment being driven through the cities of Priest River and Newport.
The skidder was ultimately located in the 1600 block of Deer Valley Road in Pend Oreille County on property belonging to Sorenson’s grandmother, the affidavit said.
The skidder’s owner, meanwhile, learned that Sorenson had been talking with an auto-repair business in Oldtown about purchasing the piece of equipment, according to the affidavit. Sorenson had also allegedly stated that he was working with the owner to return it and avoid prosecution, which the owner denied.
Sorenson, 18, was confronted about the theft at his residence north of town and he admitted to taking the skidder and driving it 22 miles from the job site to his grandmother’s place, court documents indicate. Sorenson was at a loss to explain the theft, but told deputies he enjoyed running heavy equipment and was drunk at the time of the theft.
A preliminary hearing on the felony charge is scheduled for Sept. 5.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.