A former employee of Bouma Truck Sales (BTS), 3500 Vaughn Road, in Cascade County, court papers show that Stokes has been charged with three counts of theft by embezzlement, a felony; three counts of theft of labor or services or use of property, all misdemeanors; two counts of forgery, misdemeanors; and one count of deceptive practices, a misdemeanor.

The charges were filed on June 7. However, Neal Bouma, owner of BTS, informed the Cascade County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 30, 2005 that Stokes had been stealing from the company for about a year, using their trucks, excavators, offices, and workshop for personal gain.

Stokes’ bail was set at $25,000 and with a number of provisions, which in part included staying in contact with his attorney at last once a week; obey all laws; do not possess or consume alcoholic beverages, do not enter any establishment where alcohol is a chief item of sale, do not leave Montana without written permission of the court, and avoid all contact with any alleged victims or potential prosecution witness involved in the case, including by phone, mail, or through a third person.