A former chairman of the board of the Hungry Horse Volunteer Fire Department is charged with felony theft for allegedly taking $3,000.
Fifty-seven-year-old Ross Barker was arrested Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Barker used the department’s checking account to write to checks to his wife for $1,502 in May 2009. A month later, he purchased $46 in lattice for use at his home and over the past three years purchased $1,537 worth of parts for personal vehicles.
Barker’s arrest comes as Flathead County officials are dealing with the dissolution of the fire district’s board, which left the rural fire department with nearly $71,000 in debt.
Deputy County Attorney Tara Fugina said she could not say whether if other charges would be filed related to the district’s finances.