Man charged with felonies for taking baler on unauthorized ride

A local man ended up in the Flathead County Detention Center earlier this week after he allegedly took a hay baler for a joy ride without the owner’s permission.

Kent Ross Hiland, 34, of Kalispell, was booked on two felony counts, including theft and criminal mischief. He is being held on $20,000 bail.

According to the charging document, on the evening of Monday, May 10, at about 7:41 p.m. a deputy with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence between Whitefish and Columbia Falls for a report of a stolen hay-baling machine.

One of the victims said a man took the piece of farm equipment and drove it through their fence as her husband chased the alleged baler thief. The baler crashed into another fence and stopped.

The husband claimed the man, later identified as Hiland, stole the hay baler from their barn before crashing it into a trailer and lawn mower and both fences on their property. The husband estimated property damage at more than $1,500 and said the baler had an estimated value of $15,000.

Another county officer found Hiland several hours later, hiding in a detached garage a few miles from the scene of the incident.

When the deputy spoke to Hiland, he allegedly first said someone shot at him, but then admitted to stealing the baler.

Hiland faces 10 years in the Montana State Prison on each count. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 27.

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or shindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.