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Former Deputy Gets Suspended Term for Ammo Theft

By Beacon Staff

HAMILTON – A former Ravalli County sheriff’s sergeant accused of stealing more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition from the department has been given a five-year suspended prison sentence and must spend 15 days in jail.

Jeffrey Fowler pleaded guilty in August to felony theft as part of a deal with prosecutors, and District Judge James Haynes sentenced him Monday. Fowler was accused of stealing 40,700 rounds of ammunition between October 2008 and June 2009 and selling or trading the ammo for firearms.

But the Ravalli Republic in Hamilton reports he insisted Monday he didn’t steal anything, and he said another person took the ammo. Sheriff Chris Hoffman says he doesn’t know why Fowler would try to blame anyone else for the theft.