East Valley Middle School teacher accused of burglarizing store he worked at

An East Valley Middle School teacher is accused of burglarizing the fishing store where he also worked.

Andrew M. Breneman, 35, was arrested Jan. 19 under suspicion of second-degree burglary after the owner of Silver Bow Fly Shop, 1320 E. Indiana Ave., reported in October a $900 fly fishing rod was missing, according to court records.

The owner reviewed security footage, which on Oct. 14 showed Breneman enter the store at 7 p.m., which is after the store had closed, and stuff a fishing rod down his pants. Court documents say Breneman, a 12-year employee of the shop, went to the store again the next night, where he was confronted by the owner. He returned the rod and admitted to the previous theft.

While conducting a year-end inventory on Jan. 13, the owner also suspected Breneman of stealing four pairs of waders valued at $1,600, four pairs of boots at $610, a jacket, and another fly fishing rod.

On Jan. 18, Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies contacted Breneman near Spokane Regional Solid Waste, where he admitted to taking a pair of waders and boots from the store, according to court documents. He told detectives he became frightened after he heard they were looking for him and threw the items into the trash bins.

Kelly Shea, superintendent for East Valley School District, said Breneman has been on paid administrative leave following his Jan. 18 arrest.

According to his LinkedIn account, Breneman has been with the middle school since 2008, where he served for some years as its athletic director. Before being placed on leave, Shea said he was teaching math.

From 2014 to 2015, Breneman was making $65,728, according to data provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.