Idaho man sentenced to 9 months in prison for stealing precious artifacts

GREAT FALLS - A man from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho who stole items from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in 2024 was sentenced today to 9 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Roger Edward Hawkes, 71, pleaded guilty, also today, to one count of removing archeological resources.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided.

The government alleged in court documents that Hawkes entered the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls on September 14, 2024, approached a table-top display entitled

"Weapons of the Expedition Interpretation," and stole two historic weapons. The first is an authentic, antique, English, single-shot, black-powder Mortimer pistol, and the second is a knife in a leather, beaded sheath. Both items were made in the late 1700s or early 1800s.

As Hawkes left the building with the stolen artifacts, video surveillance appeared to show him conceal both items up his sleeve.

The United States Forest Service posted information about the theft on Facebook and received tips Hawkes was selling knives at the Little Red Truck Cottage Market. A witness confirmed Hawkes was in Great Falls on September 15 and 16, 2024, selling western items, including knives and antique pistols. Local law enforcement was able to confirm Hawkes was at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center when the theft occurred.

Hawkes sold the stolen pistol to Cisco's Gallery and law enforcement recovered it on October 24, 2024.

Following his arrest on an unrelated matter, an FBI Task Force Officer interviewed Hawkes about the September 2024 theft. He initially denied any involvement, but later said the knife, which he thought was a replica, was in his storage unit. He allowed the FBI to enter the unit and they recovered the knife.

During a second interview in May 2025, Hawkes again denied stealing the pistol and knife and said pleading guilty in his prior case did not seem to help since he received a prison sentence as opposed to probation. Hawkes has a history of theft that spans more than 40 years in California, Nevada, and Idaho.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Myers prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Great Falls Police Department, the United States Forest Service, and the FBI Art Crime Team/FBI Billings Division.

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