Hardin officials want to pay back con man

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Nov 2, 2009 at 9:29 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 2, 2009 at 9:29 PM MST

HARDIN - Officials in Hardin say they intend to pay more than $1,400 to a California con man for meals and hotel rooms he provided to three city officials as part of his scheme to take over their empty jail.

Michael Hilton, a convicted thief and fraudster from the Santa Ana area, picked up the tab for several meals and the officials' $250 hotel rooms on the same weekend he convinced them to sign onto his jail proposal. Hilton had billed himself as a security industry contractor who would fill the jail.

In the wake of the scheme's collapse, members of Hardin's Two Rivers economic development authority say they intend to pay Hilton back for their expenses.

After meeting Monday, the authority delayed sending the money directly to Hilton because he has several civil judgments pending against him in California for more than $1.1 million.

Wednesday, Nov 4 at 7:54 AM Matilda wrote ...

As part of the $1,500 TRA is willing to pay Hilton...which seems unnecessary since Hilton was fraudulent...what about Kerri Smith, the wanna-be-mayor paying TRA for her portion of the trip expenses? Al “the liar” Peterson previously stated she paid her own way, but Hilton said he paid her expenses; AL seems to have lied again!

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 8:09 AM da man wrote ...

hahahaha pay backs pay backs----da dummies----whose going to pay back Hardin for looking like fools with what dose idiots did?? dey should wear sacks over dere heads--IDIOTS written on dem////hahaha

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