Freeman, who was arrested in Oregon about three weeks after the Nov. 5, 2007, incident, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and aggravated burglary. Those charges and others were filed after seven armed men broke into a rental house at 533 S. Sixth St. E. with the intention of stealing money and drugs.
One occupant of the house was repeatedly pistol-whipped and a woman was confined with duct tape before the incident was over.
The 22-year-old Freeman, who fled to Oregon immediately after the robbery, was arrested at the end of November, and a final suspect, a man known as “Dirty,” is still at large. However, Chief Deputy Missoula County Attorney Kirsten LaCroix said Thursday that the man has been identified and warrants will soon be issued.
Pate, Coleman, Woods and Whetstone have all pleaded guilty in the case. Shelton has not.
Freeman, his attorney Randi Hood and LaCroix reached a plea agreement that calls for a 10-year sentence to the Department of Corrections, with five years suspended.
The agreement calls for Freeman, who was kicked off the Grizzly team last year due to unrelated criminal allegations, to be screened for the Treasure State Boot Camp once he arrives in prison. Freeman won't be allowed into the program while any of his co-defendants are serving in it.
District Judge John Larson will sentence Freeman on July 17.
Reporter Michael Moore can be reached at 523-5252 or at mmoore@missoulian.com.
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