Facebook posts bring end to dirt bike heist

SANDPOINT — Incriminating posts on social media brought a swift end to a motorcycle theft investigation, according to court records.

Matthew Duane Howard Jr. is charged with grand theft. He made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Friday.

Howard, 20, and an accomplice are accused of stealing two dirt bikes from a home off Spirit Lake Cutoff Road on May 26, 2016.

The owner of the Yamaha and Suzuki followed tracks leading from his place to property owned by a relative of Howard’s. The alleged victim and a sheriff’s deputy later discovered Facebook posts showing an injured Howard, who told friends he incurred the injuries while riding a dirt bike. Another Facebook post showed Howard’s alleged accomplice with the stolen bikes in front of a Kootenai County home.

Terren LaRosa, 19, was subsequently arrested after he was stopped in Coeur d’Alene for riding the off-road bike on the streets. A check of the bike’s vehicle identification number revealed it to be one of the stolen bikes. LaRosa’s arrested led to the discovered of the second dirt bike, court records indicate.

A criminal charge against LaRosa remains filed under seal in Bonner County Magistrate Court.

Both bikes were badly damaged and one point offered up for sale via Facebook, according to court records.

LaRosa allegedly confessed to committing the theft with Howard, but later stopped speaking with investigators.

Howard is free on his own recognizance while awaiting a preliminary hearing, court documents indicate. A public defender has been appointed to represent him.