Hungry Horse fire board chairman sentenced

The former chairman of the Hungry Horse Fire District board of trustees was sentenced to probation last week for theft and official misconduct.

Ross Barker, 58, was arrested on Nov. 17, 2010, after an investigation found the rural fire department faced a deficit of about $70,000. Accused of stealing $2,634 from the fire department, Barker originally was charged with one count of felony common scheme and one misdemeanor count of official misconduct. He faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Barker pleaded guilty to the theft and official misconduct charges by Alford plea, meaning he maintained his innocence but acknowledged evidence existed that could prove his guilt at trial. Flathead County District Court Judge Stewart Stadler sentenced Barker to one year of probation and ordered him to pay $130 in restitution and $150 in surcharges.

According to court documents, Barker served as board chairman for the fire district from July 2008 to February 2010 and was authorized during that time to pay expenses with checks drawn on the fire district's Glacier Bank account.

Two checks Barker allegedly wrote totaling $1,052 went to his wife for purchases at a pawn shop and for cash. A third check for $45.88 allegedly was used to purchase plastic lattice used at Barker's home.

Barker also allegedly used the fire district account to charge purchases at an auto parts store totaling $1,537 for a radio/MP3 player and for parts for vehicles not owned by the fire department, including a motorcycle, a Ford Mustang and a Pontiac Firebird.