Man charged with trying to steal Polson, Mont., house that was in foreclosure goes on trial

Man on trial for trying to steal Polson house

POLSON, Mont. — A trial is under way for a man charged with trying to steal a house in foreclosure by removing “for sale” signs, changing the locks and filing strange paperwork with the county claiming he purchased the house from Yahweh.

Lake County prosecutor Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson told the jury Monday that authorities found journals belonging to Brent Arthur Wilson that detailed a plan to steal up to 100 homes in foreclosure.

Wilson was charged after Polson real estate agent Ed McCurdy investigated the removal of “for sale” signs from a $380,000 house he was selling on behalf of a lender.

An investigation found Wilson tried to use the house as collateral for a $125,000 loan he sought from a Missoula financial institution.

Wilson was charged with theft or attempted theft, deceptive practices or attempted deceptive practices, tampering with public records and criminal mischief.

Wilson refused attempts by District Judge Kim Christopher to appoint him legal counsel. He didn’t participate in Monday’s court proceedings and instead appeared to be reading from an IRS document.

Cole-Hodgkinson asked Lake County sheriff’s detective Rick Lenz to read several entries from journals seized from Wilson.

“The prospect of claiming and fulfilling my 100-title vision is growing stronger,” read one. “Took down one of two Realtor signs,” says another entry. “The other needs a tool to dig it up.”

Many of the journal entries appear to be addressed to “the creator, Yahweh.”

“Wow. You surely have blessed me with some wonderful opportunities,” Lenz read from the journals, which referred to a property with a “million-dollar value” that “seems to be waiting for me to claim it. Wow on wow.”

Authorities have said they believe Wilson tried to claim ownership of at least two more houses, one he was living in and one he was renting out, but he has not been charged in those cases.

A court-ordered mental health evaluation found Wilson fit to stand trial.

Information from: Missoulian, www.missoulian.com