Montana Antigay Campaigner: Conspiracy Behind Charges

[William769]

Source: The Advocate

A Montana antigay activist accused of running a fraudulent investment scheme says he’s the victim of a conspiracy by gay advocates.

Harris Himes (pictured) of Hamilton, Mont., and business partner Jeb Bryant, both self-proclaimed ministers, were charged last week by the state commissioner of securities and insurance with theft, fraud, conspiracy, failure to register a security, and failure to register to sell that security, the Missoulian newspaper reports.

The charges are based on accusations that in 2008 they persuaded a man to invest $150,000 in their company, Duratherm Building Systems, promising him a 20% return on investment and a 5% ownership stake. The man says he has made no profit, has received no receipts or certificate of ownership, and couldn’t get his money back.

Himes, a frequent campaigner against LGBT causes and abortion rights, turned himself in last week and was placed in Ravalli County jail before posting bail. While he was there, a local radio show, Talkback, interviewed him, and he said, “Unfortunately, there is some evidence that shows that this is in fact an opportunity for the gay rights activists to come after me.” He said he is “innocent of all charges” and that he may have been targeted by Montana insurance commissioner Monica Lindeen, whom he described as an advocate for abortion rights and gay equality.


Read more: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/10/03/Montana_Antigay_Campaigner_Conspiracy_Behind_Charges/

---

Man my brothers & sisters must be really powerful! I wonder why we can't get equal protection under the law if we are so powerful.

[Ex Lurker]

1. Hamilton is ground zero for wingnuts

its' where the Montana Freemen had their HQ.

[William769]

2. I did not know that, thanks.

[Ford_Prefect]

4. Freeman ground zero was in Jordan, Montana.

You seem to be confused Ex Lurker.

The Freemen were headquartered in Garfield County, near the town of Jordan , which is in Eastern Montana. This according to the Southern Poverty Law Center: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/1998/spring/justice-vs-justus#

Hamilton is West of the Divide. It has a mixed culture which includes wingnuts, Democrats, Farmers, Stock Brokers, Forestry Service Folk, Rocky Mountain Lab researchers, a few semi-retired movie stars, and other local fauna.

There are a fair number of wingnuts and other lost souls found in Montana generally. However, the Freemen have yet to organize in Ravalli County and would face opposition from locally grown "irregulars" as well as other fools and horse thieves.

[SoapBox]

3. The Crooks, Creeps and Liars ALWAYS find blame for their own rottenness, in someone else...

ANYONE else.

Take a look in the mirror Crooked Freaks.

[Ford_Prefect]

5. It would be a good idea to look at the original story.

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_cf85e17e-eb09-11e0-8358-001cc4c03286.html

along with these:
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_c8ccaa92-ea47-11e0-b2d6-001cc4c03286.html
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_e4fded97-03cc-5304-ae15-45ec0631130d.html

Among other things Himes has been a con artist for some time. He styles himself as a western version of Jerry Falwell but is very clearly only in it for the money. Hamilton is where he set up but he no more represents the area character than does a typical high school mascot. He has promoted himself a-la Falwell on the fears and the wallets of others. He has done real damage in Montana and seems about to reap the whirlwind for his methods if not his point of view. It is significant that there was a thorough, well supported and lengthy investigation prior to the charges being brought.

May he rot in prison.