Man convicted of grand theft, burglary following art gallery theft

COEUR d'ALENE — A man has been convicted of grand theft and burglary, both felonies, after stealing two gold bars and several gold chains from an area art and antique gallery.

According to a press release from the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, 34-year-old Liviu Stelica posed as an interested buyer to convince a gallery employee to begin wrapping several items for sale, stealing the gold bars and chains valued at $33,000 from a display case and leaving the store undetected while the employee was distracted.

The gallery was able to capture the theft on surveillance video.

Stelica was extradited back to Idaho and Nebraska and first appeared in court Sept. 10, 2024, according to the release. He was sentenced on Thursday.

Stelica is also being held on an immigration detainer with the federal government and is currently wanted out of Nebraska, Wyoming, and California for fraud, larceny, and fraud.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sam Stevens recommended that Stelica be sentenced to prison for four years without the possibility of parole. This would allow Stelica to be immediately transported on his immigration detainer after serving his prison time.  

District Judge Barry McHugh sentenced Stelica to prison for three years with no possibility of parole.