FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Supreme Court says a judge was wrong to order a state criminal investigator to pay a man for a payloader the agent confiscated and gave away because it was stolen.
 
     Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent Arnie Rummel took possession of the loader in May 2014 from Forbes resident Darrell Schrum after an investigation determined the equipment was stolen. Schrum told authorities he didn’t know about the theft and bought the loader in good faith.
 
     Southeast District Judge Daniel Narum declared Rummel to be in contempt of court for failing to meet a deadline to return the loader, and later ordered Rummel to pay Schrum nearly $54,000.
 
     The Supreme Court says the judge’s order did not comply with requirements for claims against the state.