News

Zinchenko makes a plea deal in The Cool Moose case

By Scott Wagar

12/03/2013

The individual responsible for burglarizing The Cool Moose had that case against him dismissed this past week in district court after he made a plea agreement on another theft charge.

Pavel Petrovich Zinchenko, 55, pleaded guilty to theft of property of a laptop that was privately owned and was sentenced to one year and a day at the state penitentiary in Bismarck.

“We reached an agreement,” said states attorney Asmundur Swain Benson III. “He was charged with a couple of felonies and we reached an agreement with his attorney where he pleaded guilty to one felony and I dismissed the other.”

The case dismissed was The Cool Moose incident due to the fact the merchandise Zinchenko stole was all recovered during his arrest.

“Yes, that case (The Cool Moose burglary) has been solved if you will,” Benson said. “He (Zinchenko) was the one, he broke in there and then was charged. But, like I said, that was part of the plea agreement and that one was dismissed.”

According to Steve Watson, sheriff of Bottineau County, Zinchenko acquired a key illegally to the building where The Cool Moose is located. Once inside the building, he stole a number of items from the business.

During that time, Watson was tipped off that other merchandise had been stolen in the community which was in Zinchenko’s possession, and an AP was sent out by the police station to find Zinchenko.

Law enforcement found Zinchenko just outside of Bottineau leaving the city at a high rate speed and was pulled over. It was there where all the merchandise from The Cool Moose was discovered in his vehicle.

Erin Maureen Conroy defended Zinchenko.

Zinchenko is currently in the North Dakota State Penitentiary serving his time.