SANDPOINT — A $40,000 arrest warrant was issued for a Bonner County man linked to vehicle burglaries in Priest River.

Jacob Charles Bocook failed to appear at his arraignment Monday in 1st District Court on two counts of burglary and counts of misdemeanor and felony theft, court records show. Judge Barbara Buchanan issued a bench warrant for Bocook’s arrest.

Bocook, 24, was arrested by Priest River Police after they received a report that vehicles were being prowled near the intersection of Fifth Street and Jackson Avenue last March, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Officers located Bocook and saw a women’s-style wallet protruding from a pocket. Bocook denied that it was a woman’s wallet, although officers discovered identification and financial transaction cards in it which showed that it belonged to a woman whose vehicle was burglarized. Bocook was also charged with burglarizing a man’s vehicle and stealing an electronic device.

Bocook was incredulous when advised he was being placed under arrest for burglarizing the vehicles and taking their owners’ property. Bocook argued his arrest was unwarranted, while police attempted to explain that burglarizing vehicles was a crime, according to the affidavit.

Charging documents in Bocook’s case have been amended several times, court records indicate. All but one of the burglary counts were dismissed and then reinstated, apparently to induce a plea. All but one of the burglary counts were dismissed again on Sept. 10.

Bocook faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the lone surviving burglary count.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.