Two defendants in Dixon burglary plead not guilty

Danielle Switalski

Two of the three charged for the alleged burglary of Dixon Melons, Inc. entered not guilty pleas to one count felony burglary in Sanders County District Court last Tuesday.

William Weatherwax, 16, and Trevor Nault, 17, have been charged with the theft of $60,000 from Joey and Harley Hettick’s business and residence on September 12.

Nault’s defense attorney Kirk Krutilla waived a transfer hearing in order to have Nault tried as an adult, therefore, Nault will be detained in an isolation cell in Sanders County Jail, rather than being returned to Missoula and held in a Youth Detention facility.  The bail for Nault is now set at either a bond of $50,000 or a $5,000 cash bond.  Nault is set to appear in court for an Omnibus Hearing November 17.

This was Weatherwax’s first appearance in court with his Public Defender Caroline Riss.   Weatherwax is also set to appear in court November 17 for a transfer hearing to determine if he will be tried as a juvenile or an adult and a following Omnibus Hearing on the same date.

Dylan Rude, 18, is also being held for one count felony burglary for the Dixon Melons theft, with bail set at $50,000.

The seasonal earnings of Dixon Melons, Inc. were taken from an unlocked safe in their basement.  The Hetticks knew all three of the accused.

It was a long list of evidence and witnesses, 33 to be exact, that led the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office to arrest the three defendants.

Deputy Shawna Chenowith, of the Sheriff’s Office was the main Deputy on the case and began an immediate investigation of the theft on September 12.

According to the affidavit, Joey Hettick and employee Cassie Bonds returned from various Farmer’s Markets that Saturday to find the safe door open and four white legal sized envelopes missing with the name of each of the four business owners with their annual share of the business profits inside.  Each envelope contained approximately $14,000.00.  Also missing was an insurance check, horseshoe shaped earrings, diamond earrings and a digital camera.

After five pages of recorded evidence and the subsequent investigations, the three defendant’s were arrested in late October and charged with the burglary.  Please look to later issues on the continuation of the these court cases.