Havre man pleads guilty to fireworks heist

A Havre man pleaded guilty Monday to stealing nearly $3,000 in fireworks last year.

Daniel Baranyai, 29, admitted in District Court in Havre to felony theft as part of plea deal that dismissed a felony burglary charge.

Baranyai’s sentence has been scheduled for April 16 at 1:30 p.m.

A deputy responded and began conducting an investigation after receiving a call July 2 from the manager of the Pyromania fireworks stand. The manager reported that his stand had been broken into the night before. The keyed padlock had been cut off the front door and “top end” and “interesting” fireworks were stolen, the manager told law enforcement.

The Hill County Sheriff’s Office received information July 5 from someone who reported that Baranyai had bragged about robbing the fireworks stand.

Deputies located Baranyai. They interviewed him and took pictures of some fireworks found in his pickup truck.

Baranyai told deputies he had gotten the fireworks from several places while traveling as a trucker. He did not have a receipt or proof of purchase of fireworks, court charging documents say.

An investigating deputy later showed the pictures of Baranyai’s pickup that contained fireworks to the fireworks manager, who identified several of them. The manager provided a list of stolen fireworks valued at $2,968.20.

After receiving a search warrant, deputies found additional fireworks at Baranyai’s residence.