Ronan man sentenced for generator theft

A Ronan man was committed in District Court in Polson July 25 to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years with all but 220 days of time served suspended on a burglary charge. Edward Glen Truman, 34, was also given a five-year DOC term all suspended for violating terms of probation. Truman was on probation stemming from a felony escape conviction.

The sentencing was part of a plea agreement reached earlier that dismissed a drug-possession charge related to possessing heroin on New Year's Day 2021.

According to court records, on Nov. 20, 2017, while in custody on unrelated charges, Truman told detention staff that he was experiencing chest pains. When checked by medical staff at St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, Truman told a detention officer that his leg irons and handcuffs were too tight.

After the officer loosened the handcuffs and leg irons, Truman was able to lift a leg over his belly chain. He then ran, but tripped into another person and was quickly taken back into custody.

As for the burglary conviction, charging documents indicate that Truman admitted to stealing a generator on Dec. 6, 2020, that was used at St. Luke Hospital’s remote COVID 19 testing building in Ronan.

In addition to the 10-year suspended commitment to DOC, Judge John A. Mercer ordered Truman to perform 100 hours of community service, with 40 hours specifically at St. Luke Hospital. The generator has been returned.