By Gwyneth Hyndman
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Austin Ailport of Potomac, who was hired as the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District’s first paid EMT/Firefighter in June, but was fired for the alleged theft of cash, tools and fuel over a two month period before his termination.
According to court documents, Ailport was charged Oct. 3 with felony burglary and deceptive practices misdemeanor; however, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office failed to locate him to serve him papers. Ailport missed two arraignment hearings held Oct. 27 and Nov. 10. Because he missed court appearances, a warrant has now been issued for his arrest, and bail is set at $10,000.
Court documents state that on Aug. 14, Ailport allegedly entered the Seeley Lake Fire Department through an office window and stole cash proceeds from Seeley Lake burn permits totaling about $1,127. Documents also state that from June 12 to Aug. 27, Ailport allegedly used district credit cards kept in the vehicles to obtain property, labor or services of a total value that was less than $1,500.
The matter was referenced as an agenda item for the Sept. 1 Seeley Lake Rural Fire District special board meeting, noting that during a closed personnel session, board members discussed the “termination of our most recent employee FF/EMT” … “Discussed embezzlement, theft, breaking and entering. Fuel and burn permit money was stolen [amounting to] $2,046.”
As of Friday, Dec. 2, Ailport had not been located for arrest.
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