A judge has
dismissed two felony charges against the head of the state workers
compensation agency, saying he found no evidence that Sandy Blunt
personally benefited from gifts and bonuses given to
employees.
Blunt had been
charged with two counts of misapplication of entrusted property.
South Central District Judge Robert Wefald held a preliminary
hearing earlier this month to determine whether the case should go
to trial.
In his ruling
Thursday, Wefald said he found no loss to the government and no
evidence Blunt knew his actions were not authorized by the
Workforce Safety and Insurance Agency board.
"There is no
evidence he used any of the funds for himself, although he could
easily have had a cup of coffee or slice of cake at one of the
events which led to these charges," Wefald wrote. "Any funds he
gave away were for the benefit of state employees and for the
benefit of Workforce Safety and Insurance."
