Former probation officer is convicted of misconduct

A former Havre probation officer was found guilty this morning of official misconduct for engaging in sexual acts with a woman he was assigned to supervise.

State District Judge David Rice convicted Edward L. Schmidt after a one-day nonjury trial.

According to the charging document, Schmidt required the woman to call him excessively, talked to her about sexual matters, and on three occasions masturbated in her presence while touching her.

Rice returned the guilty verdict at 11 a.m. following closing arguments. Earlier in the morning he denied a last-minute request by the defense to dismiss the...