Theft Charges Dismissed Against Challis Man

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Three criminal court cases filed against Challis resident Joseph Thompson were dismissed on March 10 by District Judge Darren Simpson. The Custer County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Rogers had filed motions to dismiss the cases on February 20, stating he intended to refile the three cases into one collective case, but had not done so by the time of publication.

Why it matters

The dismissed charges against Thompson stemmed from allegations that he accepted money and vehicles from customers at his now-closed Bumpside Treasures business to sell and restore vehicles, but failed to complete the agreed-upon work or sales. This case highlights the challenges small business owners can face when legal disputes arise with customers over unfinished services.

The details

The three dismissed cases included charges of grand theft and selling autos without a dealer license. Thompson is still involved in two civil lawsuits in Custer County, where plaintiffs allege he took their money or autos and failed to complete restoration work.

• The charges were dismissed on March 10, 2026.
• Prosecutor Paul Rogers filed motions to dismiss the cases on February 20, 2026.

What’s next

Prosecutor Paul Rogers stated he intends to refile the three cases against Joseph Thompson into a single collective case, but had not done so by the time of publication.