Gay Rights

Anti-Gay 'Pastor': Gay Activists Behind My Six Fraud Charges

Jillian Rayfield | October 3, 2011, 5:55AM

An anti-gay activist in Montana who describes himself as a pastor says that the six theft, fraud and conspiracy charges he was slapped with may have been the work of gay activists.

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Montana

Montana Bill Would Create Armed State Militia Force

Jillian Rayfield | February 8, 2011, 10:58AM

A Montana Republican has introduced a bill that would create a volunteer armed militia called a "home guard," that would answer directly to the governor or local sheriffs during emergencies.

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Montana

Montana GOPer Pushes Sheriff Supremacy Bill

Jillian Rayfield | January 25, 2011, 8:49AM

Montana state Sen. Greg Hinkle (R) is sponsoring a bill to give local sheriffs supreme authority in their counties, and requiring "that federal employees shall obtain the county sheriff's permission to arrest, search, and seize."

In a meeting before the state's Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, the Helena Independent-Record reports that more than 25 people testified in support of the bill, including Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, who said that authority should rest with the guy that we know and the rascal we can throw out."

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Marijuana

Montana Jury Pool Stages 'Mutiny' Over Pot Possession Charge

Jillian Rayfield | December 22, 2010, 8:43AM

A prosecutor in Missoula County, Montana was forced to reach a plea agreement in a felony drug case after almost all 27 members of the jury pool said they would not convict the suspect for possessing such a small amount of marijuana.

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Denny Rehberg

Rehberg Files Lawsuit Blaming Firefighters For Trees Burned In Forest Fire

Megan Carpentier | July 5, 2010, 6:26PM

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT)

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT), fresh off his Republican primary win, filed a lawsuit Friday against the City of Billings and the Billings Fire Department for damages sustained in a 2008 fire. Rehberg is the developer of record for the 1,000-acre subdivision that is managed by his wife.

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Ravalli County, MT

MT Group Demands Local Leaders Boot Feds, Form Militia, Protect Guns

Justin Elliott | January 22, 2010, 2:45PM

A group of nearly 200 "extremely concerned citizens" in a small Montana county are demanding that local leaders fill out a "questionnaire" pledging to form a local militia, prohibit mandatory vaccinations, boot the EPA out of town, allow citizens to bear any type of gun, and require federal government employees to get written approval before approaching "any Citizen."

Organized in part by a group called Celebrating Conservatism, which is lead by a woman who quit the state GOP after complaining of "fake" Republicans, the questionnaire was presented this week to the county commissioners and sheriff of Ravalli County, according to the local Republic newspaper.

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American Police Force

American Private Police Force Faxes One Page Non-Response To AG's Request

Justin Elliott | October 13, 2009, 3:50PM

Michael Hilton

In the least surprising development of the day, American Private Police Force has declined to answer the Montana attorney general's questions seeking information about its (supposed) business and (supposed) past clients.

Attorney General Steve Bullock sent a letter two weeks ago demanding the information, before the deal for APPF to run a jail in Hardin fell apart.

KTVQ in Billings reports:

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American Police Force

American Police Force Offers Fugitive Tracking, 'Covert Pregnancy Testing' and More!

Rachel Slajda | October 1, 2009, 11:24AM

When reading TPMmuckraker's coverage of American Police Force, the shadowy private security firm that's taken over a prison in Montana, you might wonder what other services APF offers. Surely, you think, they do more than run empty jails for mysterious reasons?

Indeed they do. According to its web site, the company offers a wide range of services, including "Check Your Mate" cheating spouses investigations, "fugitive recovery" for fugitives hiding in one of those pesky non-extradition countries and help if a loved one is kidnapped and held for ransom.

Or is it the other way around?

Our highly trained staff will discover information that fits your needs to get the answers you need. Some of our services include Kidknapping & Ransoms for ransom, INTL Air Marshalls, Security for convoys in Iraq, Pakistan + More!

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American Police Force

American Police Force Leader's Long Criminal Record

Zachary Roth | October 1, 2009, 11:17AM

American Police Force logo

The American Police Force, that mysterious security company that just took over an empty jail in Hardin, Montana, is looking shadier than ever.

Since yesterday, details have been emerging about the background of the man behind APF -- a California-based grifter, who has said he's a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Montenegro, and uses the name Michael Hilton.

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American Police Force

Mysterious Private Security Firm Gets Control Of Empty Jail In Small Montana Town

Justin Elliott | September 30, 2009, 3:16PM

American Police Force logo

A shadowy private security company that has no known clients but claims to have helped foreign governments combat terrorism and will protect anything from cruise ships to Pakistani convoys has taken over a jail in a small Montana town, with plans to build a law enforcement training facility on the property.

The state legislature is looking into the matter and residents of Hardin, MT, were alarmed last week when executives from the firm, American Police Force, showed up in the town, which does not have its own police department, with Mercedes SUVs bearing "City Of Hardin Police Department" decals.

And the town has had to tamp down reports on conspiracy Web sites that APF plans to impose experimental H1N1 vaccines on residents under threat of quarantine in the jail.

Under a lease signed with Hardin, APF, based in Santa Ana, California, and incorporated just six months ago, is now in control of a 400-bed detention facility the town built a few years ago but never used, a town official confirmed to TPMmuckraker today. The town reportedly stands to make over $2 million per year.

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