A St. Ignatius man is accused of stealing a vehicle in Missoula, then wrecking and abandoning it in Ravalli.

Gregory Dale Gobert, 48, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson April 8 to felony charges of theft and burglary. He also pled not guilty to misdemeanor charges of obstructing a peace officer, careless driving and failure to give notice by the quickest means of an accident.

According to court records, on Jan. 31, 2026, law enforcement in Missoula entered a gray 2009 Toyota Corolla as stolen on a national database. It was missing from a service station in the 300 block of South Orange Street in Missoula.

Later that day, law enforcement in Lake County was dispatched to a report of a vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 and MT Highway 200 in Ravalli. A gray 2009 Toyota Corolla was reported to be involved and was abandoned near the scene of the wreck.

A witness reported seeing a gray Toyota stop on the side of the northbound lane, then make a U-turn in front of another northbound vehicle causing a collision. Law enforcement located a disabled 2024 Volkswagen Taos with severe damage to its front end and airbags deployed.

A gray-colored bumper with a license plate matching the stolen Toyota still attached was also found in the vicinity. The Toyota was located, wrecked and abandoned, a little further south, near the Bison Cafe.

Two people, who admitted being in the Toyota, were found walking south from the scene. One of them indicated Gobert was the driver and had fled.

Law enforcement located a trailer home nearby that appeared burglarized. Deputies announced their presence and asked for any occupants to make themselves known. After receiving no response, they contacted the owner who indicated no one had permission to be in the trailer and gave law enforcement consent to enter.

Gobert was found in the rear of trailer sitting in a chair behind a closed door. When he was taken into custody, he was allegedly in possession of keys for a Toyota with a label reading “Roger’s Corolla” attached.

Gobert had a shoulder injury consistent with the type of injury the driver of the Toyota would have sustained in the crash with the Volkswagen.

Judge Molly Owen set the case for trial on Aug. 31. Gobert remains at liberty.