POLSON – A drifter convicted of trying to assume ownership of a Polson area house in foreclosure was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison.
KERR-AM and the Missoulian say District Judge Kim Christopher sentenced 53-year-old Brent Arthur Wilson to 20 years in prison with 10 suspended on felony charges of theft, deceptive practices, tampering with public records and a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.
The investigation into Wilson began when a real estate agent noticed “for sale” signs had been removed from a $380,000 house he was selling on behalf of a lender in August 2009. The locks had also been changed.
Wilson had filed strange paperwork with the Lake County clerk and recorder’s office claiming to have purchased the house from Yahweh.
“I want the defendant under some sort of supervision for at least 20 years to protect other property owners,” said Christopher, who noted that Wilson underwent a mental health evaluation and was found fit to stand trial. “He has been unwilling to participate in society, recognize any laws, lacks an appreciation for other people’s rights, flaunted the system, and deliberately misused public records.”
The judge sentenced Wilson to six years with the state Department of Corrections, with three suspended, for theft; four years, with two suspended, for deceptive practices; and 10 years, with five suspended, for tampering with public records.
Wilson also received a six-month jail term for the criminal mischief charge, and credit for time served.