ND official on trial for offering unapproved grant to firefighters

The Associated Press

BISMARCK, ND — A lawyer for North Dakota's workers compensation agency says former director Sandy Blunt offered a $150,000 grant to a firefighters group before a grant program was in place.

Anne Green testified at the trial of Blunt, who is charged with two felony counts of misappropriation of entrusted property. He is accused of misspending funds at Workforce Safety and Insurance during the almost four years that he was the agency's chief executive officer.

Green says at the time Blunt offered the North Dakota Firefighter's Association grant, WSI had no such grant program. She says one was created later.

Prosecutors are trying to show Blunt had a habit of spending WSI money without authority to do it.

Blunt's lawyer, Michael Hoffman, says the firefighters association did fill out paperwork for the grant. And Green testified that the grant was legally approved.