POTOMAC - Approximately three weeks ago, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Deputies in Seeley Lake learned of a wanted fugitive by the name of Justin Mooney. Mooney was arrested March 19 in Potomac on a probation violation, a $5,000 warrant out of Lewis and Clark County and a $690 warrant from Great Falls. He was also charged with three accounts of felony theft.
Two years ago, Mooney entered into a plea agreement with Lewis and Clark County District Judge James Reynolds after pleading guilty to stealing antlers near Helena. Mooney was given a three-year deferred sentence and had six other criminal counts, including felony possession of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge dismissed.
MCSO deputies received information that in December of 2016, Mooney had fled to Florida with a female companion. A warrant was issued for his arrest shortly after.
Deputies received information that the pair had returned to the Potomac area in March. Deputies began actively searching for Mooney and during their investigation found caches of stolen property in various locations in the area. The stolen items included guns, four wheelers, flatbed trailers, tools and other miscellaneous items.
On March 19, deputies found Mooney at a residence in Potomac and took him into custody. In addition to the probation violation and warrants, Mooney was charged with three counts of felony theft for stealing a 2003 Honda ATV from the Fairfield area, a 2005 Yamaha Bruin ATV from Great Falls and a 16-foot JJN car hauler trailer also licensed in the Fairfield area.
Upon further investigation, deputies discovered Mooney had been on a criminal rampage throughout the country during the four months he was away. The crime spree included burglaries and thefts that stretched from Montana to Florida, as well as the Great Lakes area. The law enforcement agencies involved throughout the country estimate the pair stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property.
While not directly related to the Mooney case, information that surfaced during the investigation led law enforcement to other stolen property in the area including a handgun and camp trailer valued at nearly $30,000.
Investigators recovered the stolen handgun out of Lewis and Clark County.
The camp trailer, stolen from Spokane, Wash. in 2013, was recovered near the Seeley Lake Transfer Station. An arrest warrant was issued. A Seeley Lake resident living in Dogtown was arrested on a felony theft charge Thursday, April 6.
Mooney is currently being held in the Missoula County jail with bonds totaling $120,690. Deputies are continuing to work with the County Attorney’s Office and various law enforcement agencies throughout the country to be sure every crime is accounted for.
Reader Comments(0)