(Spirit Lake)– A former environmental safety and security director at the Spirit Lake Polaris Industries plant has been sentenced on burglary and false imprisonment charges.
Robert Matheson pleaded guilty in June of this year to two counts of burglary in the second degree, a class “C” felony; and three counts of false imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor. Matheson was sentenced to terms not to exceed 10 years on each of the burglary in the second degree chrages; and to one year terms for each count of false imprisonment. The terms are to be served consecutively, with credit given for 72 days already served.
Matheson was also ordered to pay restitution of 1,394-dollars to Polaris Industries, and to pay court costs.
Authorities say Matheson assaulted and held several female employees against their will in his office while he was employed at the Spirit Lake Polaris plant; and that he removed items from the plant prior to moving to another job in Mattoon, Illinois. A search warrant executed on his residence in Illinois turned up the items that had been stolen in Spirit Lake, along with evidence pertaining to the false imprisonment charges.
