Local man accused of burglary, theft

HOPE — A member of a window cleaning crew has been taken into custody for allegedly stealing an expensive wedding ring while working at an Eagen Mountain home.

Brandon Terrell Thames is charged with burglary and grand theft. He made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Thursday, although minutes from the hearing were not immediately available.

Thames, 28, was arrested on Wednesday, a day after the ring, valued at $10,000, turned up missing from the couple’s home. The woman’s husband discovered it had been sold to Ponderay pawn shop. Pawn records showed Thames presented his Idaho driver’s license when selling the ring for $600, according to a Bonner County Sheriff’s Office probable cause affidavit.

The owner of the window cleaning business rendezvoused with a deputy at the Idaho Department of Labor upon learning that his employee sold the ring, the affidavit said. Thames was arrested without incident.

Thames admitted selling the gold and diamond ring in order to secure new housing, according to court documents. However, he denied taking it and sold it on behalf of somebody else because he had a valid ID. He declined to say who he sold it for, the affidavit said.

The new charges also amounted to a violation of his probation in a felony drug possession case, court records show.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.