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Kalispell Murder Suspect’s Wife Pleads Guilty to Charges

By Beacon Staff

The common-law wife of a Kalispell homicide suspect pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and felony theft. Both charges are connected to the murder of 49-year-old Wesley Collins.

Karrolyn Robinson, 19, appeared before Flathead County District Judge Stewart Stadler on Oct. 7.

Robinson’s common-law husband, Robert Lake, 22, is accused of beating Collins to death with hammers along with Jeffrey Nixon, 19, on April 12 and stealing his medical marijuana and money.

Court documents allege that Robinson knowingly tampered with evidence by telling Lake’s brother to delete all of the text messages off Lake’s phone before she turned it over to authorities. Police say she did the same on her own phone.

At the hearing, Robinson testified that stolen items worth more than $1,500 appeared in her apartment on April 17, and she did not report it to police or make an effort to return them.

Police searched her apartment and found some of Collins’ personal belongings, according to court records, including a flat screen television, tools, weight equipment and prescription medications.

Robinson also admitted that she learned a very serious crime had been committed and she knew the identity of some of the people involved. She told the court that she knew the text messages on the cell phone had evidentiary value.

A burglary charge was dropped in the plea deal. Prosecutors are calling for a 15-year prison sentence with seven years suspended, while the defense requested a 10-year sentence, with seven years suspended.

The hearing became emotional when Robinson’s attorney, Daniel Minnis, asked for a bond reduction so Robinson could spend time with her daughter.

Robinson wept as she told the court, “I have a 5-month-old daughter that I haven’t been able to hold since she was 2 days old.”

Minnis acknowledged that Robinson would be going to prison and asked Stadler to reduce her bond to $10,000 so she could establish a brief relationship with her child.

Minnis said Robinson would wear a GPS tracking bracelet, would be subject to random drug tests and would check in at the sheriff’s office every morning and evening if released.

Robinson’s mother, Anna Johnson, testified that her family was willing to adhere to these restrictions and that Robinson would be with a family member at all times.

In a previous bond reduction hearing, prosecutors presented evidence that Johnson lived in Canada and expressed concern that Robinson might be a flight risk. At the Oct. 7 hearing, Johnson testified that she was barred from Canada for a year for not renewing her temporary residency after coming to Kalispell in April for her grandchild’s birth.

While prosecutor Alison Howard said she was sympathetic to Robinson’s situation, the state opposed a bond reduction since Robinson’s case is part of a larger homicide case.

“Ms. Robinson played a role in these serious crimes,” Howard said.

There was also concern about Robinson fleeing in the face of a prison term.

Stadler refused to grant the bond reduction, saying it would be in Robinson’s best interest to remain in jail instead of in the community considering the charges against her.

Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 24.

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