Kasey Nichol Hugs, Theft of Government Property, Montana 2024

MISSOULA, Montana

A brazen thief has been brought to justice after stealing two U.S. Forest Service pickup trucks, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Kasey Nichol Hugs, 39, of Missoula, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to theft of government property. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen sentenced Hugs to two years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered $11,836 restitution for the damage caused to the property Hugs stole.

The government alleged in court documents that on Dec. 26, 2020, a white Dodge Ram 2500 crew cab pickup truck, valued at approximately $40,000, and two government cell phones were stolen from the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula. Five days later, Hugs stole a second truck, a 2017 Ford crew cab, valued at more than $28,000, from the same facility. In the weeks that followed, Hugs drove the trucks to various businesses in Missoula. In January 2021, the Ford was located on the Flathead Indian Reservation and the Dodge was recovered from the side of Highway 200 in Lincoln. Both vehicles sustained property damage and were missing their truck bed toppers. Hugs was identified through surveillance videos and other evidence as having stolen the property.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter prosecuted the case. The U.S. Forest Service and Missoula Police Department conducted the investigation. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting government property and the consequences of theft.

The sentencing of Kasey Nichol Hugs marks a significant milestone in the case. The defendant’s actions caused significant damage to the stolen vehicles and disrupted the operations of the U.S. Forest Service. The restitution ordered by the judge will help to compensate for the losses incurred by the government.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich praised the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors who worked on the case. ‘This case highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to the theft of government property,’ he said.

Related Federal Cases