California jail entrepreneur has checkered past

MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press Writer BILLINGS

Michael Hilton showed up in Hardin last week, presenting himself as an economic savior, the man who would take over the town's $27 million jail empty since it was built as a development project in 2007 and provide 200 new jobs in the process. He wore a military style uniform, and, as a gesture to local law enforcement, offered up the use of three Mercedes SUVs. But the man who styles himself as a military veteran turned private sector entrepreneur and a California defense contractor with extensive government contracts also has another image, and t...