By Tim Eberly
The Hill County Attorney's Office has charged the adult son of a Havre farm implement lot owner with theft in connection with two lawn tractors stolen from Livingston.
Prosecutors charged Tim Harmon, 24, of Havre with felony theft in Justice Court and are alleging that Harmon stole the two lawn tractors this fall from a farm implement lot in Livingston.
Harmon's father, Ron, owns Meissner Tractors Inc. in Havre. Police say Ron Harmon had no knowledge of the alleged crimes. If convicted, Tim Harmon faces 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
An informant led the Havre Police Department on Jan. 6 to Tim Harmon, who allegedly stole the brand-new John Deere riding tractors from the Park County lot of Strong & Bradley Inc., on separate occasions between August and October, according to the criminal complaint filed in court. One tractor is valued at $3,000; the other is worth $4,500.
Police found the tractors at two separate Havre residences early last week, said police Capt. Mike Barthel.
In an interview with police on Jan. 8, Harmon said he sold one tractor to a Havre man in exchange for money and a used tractor, the complaint said. The second tractor, for which Harmon said he did not receive money, was recovered from another Havre residence, the court document said.
"He just knew people that were interested in that type of equipment, probably through his dad's business," Barthel said.
