Former Broadwater County DES Coordinator Charged With Theft

A former Broadwater County disaster and emergency services coordinator is charged with steering contracts paid for with federal grant money to his own company.

William Fleiner pleaded not guilty to three counts of theft from a local government receiving federal money during a federal court hearing in Missoula. Court records filed this week indicate he has not yet hired an attorney.

Fleiner, a former Lewis and Clark County deputy sheriff, was placed on leave in 2013 after a group of concerned citizens alleged the county commission allowed Fleiner to start doing contracted services with the county through is company, Paradigm Communications and Preparedness Solutions. A grand jury indictment was filed June 1.

Prosecutors said the federal contracts issued between May and September of 2012 totaled over $34,000.