A Livingston state representative is questioning whether Hardin officials and American Police Force have violated the Montana constitution.
By Nick Lough
Story Published: Sep 30, 2009 at 7:27 PM MDT
Story Updated: Sep 30, 2009 at 7:45 PM MDT
BILLINGS - A Livingston state representative is questioning whether Hardin officials and American Police Force have violated the Montana constitution.
Representative Robert Ebinger says he became aware of the situation after Cascade and Park County law enforcement officials came to him asking questions about APF.
"Well right now I'm confused," said Ebinger and that confusion led the representative to ask for action Tuesday when the Law and Justice Committee met in Helena.
"My suggestion was for them to come to our December 18th meeting," said Ebinger. The committee decided that wasn't necessary and instead will be sending a letter to Hardin officials looking for answers.
"There are all types of different rumors floating around and it doesn't seem like there's enough answers for the public and the state," said Ebinger. But the lack of information isn't the only thing concerning Ebinger. He says recent APF activity may also have violated article 2 section 33 of the Montana Constitution Titled Importation of Armed Persons.
"No armed person or persons or body of men shall be brought into the state for the presentation of the peace or the suppression of domestic violence unless the application of the legislature or of the governor when the legislature cannot be convened," said Ebinger while reading the constitution word for word.
Ebinger isn't certain APF or the city of Hardin's actions have violated any laws yet but he believes with so much mystery surrounding the situation somebody needs to get involved.
"They talk about people being able to come in at a moments notice to put forces together and I think if we're having statements like that made we should figure out who these people are what the deal is over there in Hardin," said Ebinger.
On Wednesday, the FBI told KULR-8 they are aware of the situation in Hardin, but they have no further comment on whether they're looking into it. They released a statement saying the FBI never confirms or denies investigations.
APF head Hilton has criminal past
Billings Gazette
Posted: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:25 pm
CODY, Wyo. - Michael Hilton of American Police Force arrived in Hardin with promises of Mercedes police cars and expertise in operating prisons. He delivered the cars last week, but may have learned about prisons following a 1993 conviction for grand theft.
Public records from police and state and federal courts in California show that Michael Anthony Hilton, using that name and more than a dozen aliases over several years, is cited in multiple criminal, civil and bankruptcy cases, and was sentenced in 1993 to two years in state prison in California.
Hilton pleaded guilty in March 1993 to 14 felonies, including 10 counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and three counts of diversion of construction funds, according to Orange County court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but it is unclear how much time he served.
Court records in that case list his real name as Michael Hilton, but they also include the aliases Midrag Ilia Dokovitch, Midrag Ilia Dokovich and Michael Miodrag.
Hilton, who speaks heavily accented English, has told reporters that he is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Montenegro, a country bordering Serbia, and once part of the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
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