A Marion man accused of taking a walrus tusk as “collateral” for his stolen motorcycle has pleaded not guilty to theft and bail-jumping charges.
The Daily Inter Lake reports ( ) 34-year-old Edward Lee Hubbs III’s attorney entered the plea on Hubbs’ behalf last week.
Court documents say the ivory tusk was stolen from a home on U.S. Highway 93 on Jan. 31. A Flathead County sheriff’s deputy found the tusk last month during a vehicle search.
Hubbs, who was a passenger in the vehicle, reportedly said he was keeping the tusk as collateral because a man had allegedly stolen his motorcycle.
Authorities added bail jumping to the theft charge when Hubbs didn’t show up for an arraignment scheduled in June.
A jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 11.