Bigfork victim testifies at burglar’s sentencing

A Bigfork woman battling cancer spoke about the effects a burglary had on her during a sentencing hearing for the perpetrator last week in Flathead County District Court.

She took the stand before Judge Heidi Ulbricht sentenced Bradley Cain Bradford, 22, of Kalispell. Bradford pleaded no contest to his role in a series of burglaries and thefts that plagued the Flathead Valley beginning last summer through this spring.

“Stolen from home was an antique tiger skin rug which had been in my family since I was 11 years old,” she said. “My grandfather legally shot the tiger while hunting in Nepal. It was valued between $27,000 and $35,000, but for me its value went well beyond money.

“I was diagnosed with cancer before this happened and I’ve had to endure chemotherapy and radiation,” she said. “And there’s the gift that keeps on giving; there were checks stolen and there’s a woman who is still using them. I get calls every now and then when she tries to write one and I’ve had to deal with the threat of having my credit ruined.

“Mr. Bradford, I hope you understand the impact you’ve had on people. You have ruined lives. I hope you can find forgiveness, but I can’t,” the Bigfork woman said.

Flathead Deputy County Attorney Stacy Boman and Bradford’s attorney, Liam Gallagher, agreed to recommend eight-year sentences with four suspended on six felony counts to run concurrently. Both cited Bradford’s lack of a prior criminal record, drug addiction problems and his willingness to assist law officers in related investigations against two other men in their recommendations.

But Ulbricht didn’t follow those suggestions. She sentenced Bradford to 20 years, 16 suspended, on each of the five burglary counts and 10 years, with six suspended, on the theft charge.

The sentences will be served concurrently. Bradford received credit for time served of 161 days. But he was also ordered to pay nearly $108,000 in restitution to the victims in the crimes.

“The court has factored your age, your addiction and the mayhem you have caused and it won’t follow the plea agreement,” Ulbricht said.

“I feel some sense of closure, but I know I’ll never see those items again,” the victim said following sentencing.

Bradford was the first of three men punished for his role in the burglaries.

Two others, Jared Jay Munroe, 24, of Kalispell, and Cody Brandon Kolodejchuk, 30, of Columbia Falls, have upcoming trials.

Munroe is accused of burglary and is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 8. Also, Kolodejchuk is facing several felony charges, including burglary. His trial is also set for Sept. 8.

The list of what law enforcement authorities said Bradford stole is extensive, including guns, vehicles, cash and bonds. In the first incident, which occurred sometime between June 23 and 24, 2019, a Bobcat Lane resident reported several guns were missing, including a .50 caliber rifle, a Colt semiauto pistol and several Glock pistols. The combined value of the firearms was $5,000, according to court documents.

On March 2, 2020, a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office detective spoke with Bradford and he admitted to burglarizing the home, stealing the guns and trading them with several valley residents.

In the second incident, Bradford is accused of breaking into a Foy’s Canyon Road home sometime in late October and stealing a large amount of money, $90,000 in U.S. bonds, a Dodge Durango, guns and personal identification documents.

On Dec. 9, 2019, a detective spoke to Bradford and he allegedly admitted he and another man committed the burglary. He also said the other man abandoned him at the home, so he allegedly stole the Durango to get away from the residence.

The fourth alleged crime occurred Nov. 2, 2019, at a Foy’s Canyon Road residence and was stopped when a woman arrived before Bradford could leave with the items.

And in a fifth incident, Bradford is charged with burglarizing a floral shop on Sixth Avenue East in Kalispell sometime between Nov. 27 and Nov. 29, 2019. He is accused of prying open a door and stealing decorative lights, AA batteries, stocking caps and a Samsung phone.

Bradford is accused of being involved in two more burglaries and thefts in January 2020.

On Jan. 6, a Sheriff’s Office deputy spoke with a caretaker of a home on Montana 35. She reported a tiger skin, chainsaw, rifle and handgun were missing. A detective later spoke with Bradford and he allegedly admitted to burglarizing the home with Kolodejchuk.

Another incident allegedly involving Bradford occurred Jan. 8, 2020, when Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated a stolen car complaint by an automotive business located on U.S. 93, south of Kalispell. Surveillance footage showed a man crawling under a chain link fence at about 2:40 a.m., getting into a gray 2013 Subaru Forester, valued at $14,500, and driving out of the side gate of the property.

Later on Jan. 8, a citizen reported a burglary at a Third Avenue East business in Kalispell. Surveillance video showed a dark-colored SUV pulled into the parking lot and pushed on the wall until the door opened. A man from the SUV removed a cash box, which contained money, vehicle titles and business checks.

Also, later that day, the deputy investigating the alleged crime learned a woman, 37-year-old Elisheva Sarah Couture, attempted to cash a check for $1,054.

On Feb. 21, detectives interviewed Bradford and he allegedly admitted to stealing Subaru, then used it to push in the wall of the business where he stole cash, titles and checks. He also allegedly admitted to trying to cash one of the checks with Couture.

According to the county Sheriff’s Office website, Couture has an outstanding warrant for her arrest for forgery.

The last offense Bradford is charged for occurred Jan. 30, 2020, when he allegedly broke into a cabin and trailer on Angel Point Road, used a crowbar to pry open a gun safe and stole 18 guns, two long bows, two knives, jewelry and tools. He later allegedly admitted to committing the theft with another person.

Four days later, Bradford allegedly told a detective some of the guns and both bows were at another man’s house. When deputies searched the home they found both long bows.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.