NewsCrime and Courts

Actions

Woman who hid student’s firearm at Hardin school convicted of felony

Posted at 2:01 PM, Oct 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-12 16:13:21-04

HARDIN – A Big Horn County jury convicted Nora Bettina Block, 42, of felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer, according to Big Horn County Attorney Jay Harris.

Block was an art teacher at the Hardin High School who in late January 2018 was presented with a handgun in her classroom by a student and failed to notify authorities until the following day, and initially gave false statements to law enforcement as to the circumstances of the handgun’s discovery. Nora Bettina Block

Witnesses included the Big Horn County Under Sheriff, Sheriff’s Deputies, school administrators, another teacher, high school students, and Block.

Harris said the jury deliberated for over 7 hours before reaching verdicts on two of the three alleged counts. The jury hung on the charge of possession of a weapon in a school building, which the State subsequently moved to dismiss.

Block faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a $50,500 fine.