Former North Dakota Workers’ Comp Director Hearing Set

August 11, 2008

North Dakota’s former workers’ compensation director is to be arraigned later this month on charges that he misspent more than $18,000 in agency funds.

Sandy Blunt is accused of two felonies. He is charged with distributing unauthorized bonuses to top executives at Workforce Safety and Insurance, and using agency money to buy meals, gifts and trinkets for employees and state legislators.

Blunt’s arraignment is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 25 before South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick. Blunt’s attorney, Michael Hoffman, has said Blunt will plead not guilty.

Another judge, Robert Wefald, dismissed the charges last year, but the North Dakota Supreme Court reinstated them last June.

Blunt was forced out of his job last December by WSI’s board of directors after Gov. John Hoeven brought pressure on the board to get rid of him. A consultant’s report afterward was critical of Blunt’s management style.

Topics Workers' Compensation

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