Trial set in Stateline gas siphoning case

A Coeur d’Alene 19-year-old who deputies said smelled as if he had bathed in gasoline pleaded not guilty to four felony burglary charges, and seven misdemeanors in connection with a June fuel theft at Stateline.

Michael H. Collins is accused of siphoning gasoline from five vehicles at Stateline Auto Sales, as well as damaging door locks and ignitions on some of the cars and pickup trucks with a screwdriver and drill.

Deputies patrolling at 3 a.m. June 10 at W. Seltice Way noticed a gas jug alongside a pickup truck in the lot with a piece of garden hose hanging from its fuel tank.

When deputies investigated, they smelled the strong odor of gasoline and saw fuel overflowing from a red gas jug that was connected to the pickup truck with a piece of green and blue garden hose.

Deputies found Collins wedged between two storage containers in a parking lot across the street from where several other vehicles were found with garden hoses hanging from fuel tanks, according to police reports.

Collins, who smelled of gas, told police he had minutes earlier chased away a man who appeared to be siphoning fuel from vehicles in the parking lot.

When speaking with Collins, deputies saw a fuel cap lying nearby and a nozzle from a gas can in a motorhome where Collins said he was staying with a friend.

Deputies also found vehicle doors drilled and ignitions punched inside the vehicles that were being siphoned of fuel.

Collins, who has an extensive misdemeanor record, was held in the Kootenai County Jail on $25,000 bail, but bail was twice reduced. His bail was lowered to $5,000 in July.

Because Collins refused to enter a plea Thursday, First District Judge John Mitchell entered not guilty pleas on his behalf and set a two-day jury trial Aug. 19 in Coeur d’Alene.