HELENA—A Kalispell man who admitted participating in a
Helena armed home invasion of a couple involved in trafficking heroin was
sentenced today to six and one-half years in prison and five years of
supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Morgan Victor Pitsch, 25, pleaded guilty in October to
robbery affecting commerce and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a
crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon presided.
The prosecution said in court records that the FBI learned
of a home invasion in Helena in which the victims, a couple, were involved in
trafficking heroin. The couple had been given money by co-defendant, Kielan
Brett Franklin, to travel to Washington to buy an ounce of heroin. The couple
returned with less than an ounce. When the couple did not immediately turn over
the heroin, Franklin sent them threatening text messages.
On March 8, 2019, Franklin, Pitsch and co-defendants Arielle
Rose Cowser and Gerald Allen Hiler, went to the couple’s residence. Pitsch
possessed a pistol during the robbery, while the others searched for drugs,
money and other valuables. The robbers fled when they learned that the female
victim had secretly dialed 911. They took a small amount of heroin, the female
victim’s wedding ring, cell phone and other items.
Hiler pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 11
years and seven months in prison. Franklin has pleaded guilty to charges and is
awaiting sentencing. A jury convicted Cowser of robbery charges. Cowser is to
be sentenced on June 11.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson is prosecuting the
case, which was investigated by the FBI, Montana Regional Violent Crime Task
Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri River Drug Task
Force.
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