Blunt found guilty of one felony

BISMARCK - A jury found former North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance agency CEO Charles "Sandy" Blunt guilty of one felony count of misapplication of entrusted property and not guilty on a second, similar charge this afternoon.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

South Central Judicial District Judge Bruce Romanick ordered a pre-sentence investigation today after the verdicts were read.

The jury returned the verdicts about 3:20 p.m. today after less than a full day of deliberations. The jury received the case about 3:10 p.m. Thursday, deliberating for about 80 minutes before going home for the day. The returned to the courthouse this morning and deliberated for another five to six hours.

None of the 12 jurors would talk to the media following the trial, and one of the women jurors left in tears.

Earlier today, while the jury was deliberating, Blunt said that he likely would not talk after the trial today, but he may talk in coming days.

"Today I just want to go home," Blunt said.

Blunt, who headed the agency from mid-2004 to December 2007, was charged with two felony counts of misapplication of entrusted property.

For further updates check back to www.jamestownsun.com and read Saturday's Sun.

Tags: north dakota worker safety and insurance, news, blunt, wsi, trial, jury, felony