COEUR d'ALENE - A First District Court jury Thursday afternoon found a 28-year-old Spokane man guilty of theft by extortion.

Joshua M. Moses also was found to be a habitual criminal offender, giving the sentencing judge discretion to send Moses to prison for up to life.

Moses was arrested in July in Post Falls and charged at that time with theft by extortion and the kidnapping of Joshua M. Branam, 34. The kidnapping charge was later dropped.

Witnesses testified that Moses got $2,500 in cash from Branam's brother-in-law in a Walmart parking lot in Post Falls on July 24.

Moses' defense lawyers said Moses was a pawn who was just picking up money for Branam, who had cooked up the scheme.

Branam's brother-in-law testified he received phone calls on the morning of July 24 from Moses, and from Branam. Branam said he owed somebody money, and his life was in danger if it wasn't paid.

Branam didn't testify during Moses' trial, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The Press reported in July that Post Falls police and SWAT team members surrounded a house in Post Falls in a standoff, believing they had tracked an armed Moses there. Moses was captured hours later for the theft by extortion after a foot pursuit along the banks of the Spokane River.