Thong pleads not guilty in break-in
Teslock Thong pled not guilty to felony counts of burglary and property destruction Tuesday morning after being charged with breaking into and vandalizing the old Byron High School in late September.
Thong was charged alongside former Northwest College students Isaiah Halverson and Mack Page for the Sept. 27 and 30 incidents which the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Department stated caused more than $200,000 worth of damage to the facility.
Both the felony charge of burglary and property has a maximum sentence of 10 years in custody and a maximum fine of $10,000, judge Bobbi Overfield told Thong Tuesday morning, meaning the maximum penalty for the two felonies could be up to 20 years in custody with a fine of $20,000.
Big Horn County Attorney Marcia Bean stated that she believes the case will take four days to prosecute if it goes to trial.
While the facility broken into is known locally as the old Byron High School, the facility was sold into private hands and is currently in active use. Gold N’ Humates Oro Gro 307 uses the building to manufacture an agricultural product that supplements fertilizers.
Thong, Halverson and Page have all been released on bail, with Halverson and Page still awaiting preliminary hearings. An arraignment for Mack Page has been set for Dec. 12 at 4:30 p.m. A hearing for Halverson has yet to be scheduled.