Haugan

A Le Grand man who was previously convicted of obstructing local police officers in their attempt to serve a writ of possession at a property he once owned and subsequently fleeing the state to avoid prosecution was arrested on Tuesday over allegations that he filed fraudulent documents with the Marshall County Auditor/Recorder’s Office in an attempt to transfer ownership of said properties to a trust in his name.

Scott William Haugan, 64, has been charged with tampering with records, an aggravated misdemeanor, and records filed with intent to harass/defraud — first offense, a simple misdemeanor, by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. On May 2, he was also charged with driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked by the Marshalltown Police Department.

According to Sheriff Joel Phillips, Haugan, the former owner of How-Gan Electric and Security, began filing fraudulent documents with the Marshall County Recorder’s Office, elected officials, judges, and attorneys eight years ago, which led to District Court issuing a Permanent Writ of Injunction Without Bond in September 2018. Such an order prevents Haugan from submitting and filing any documents with the Clerk of Court, State, County, or Courthouse Office without receiving prior approval from the Court and additional stipulations (providing a need/purpose).

On April 18, 2025, Phillps added, Haugan allegedly attempted to file documents on three properties he no longer owns in Marshalltown: 808 S. 12th Ave., 1300 E. Anson St. and 1302 E. Anson St.

“In summary, these documents listed a person portrayed as or by him, the current owner and to be transferred to a fraudulent revocable trust. Much of the language used had no legal basis or meaning,” Phillips said.

Previous reporting in the T-R sheds light on the circumstances surrounding Haugan’s previous arrests and subsequent convictions. A story from 2019 indicates that in January 2018, he was alleged to have placed water barrels at the entrance of a driveway at a property in the 1300 block of East Anson Street to prevent deputies from serving a writ of possession.

“The deputies also alleged the defendant had placed miscellaneous debris in the driveway which were frozen to the ground,” the story read. “The defendant is also alleged to have let water run over the area causing ice to build up on the driveway, all allegedly done to cause injury to deputies attempting to serve the writ. Haugan owned How-Gan Electric & Security which has since closed.”

In 2019, he was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Minnesota after attempting to flee prosecution stemming from his 2018 convictions for interference with official acts and third degree harassment (a felony criminal mischief charge was dismissed), and Haugan was subsequently convicted of failure to appear — felony or awaiting sentencing or appeal and flight to avoid prosecution, both Class D felonies.

In January of 2020, Haugan was sentenced to serve 120 days in the Marshall County Jail as punishment for his repeated acts of contempt, and in December of that year, he was committed to the Director of the Department of Corrections for a period not to exceed five years, with credit for time served, for the two felony convictions. He was granted work release on Feb. 24, 2023 and then paroled.

On Wednesday, Haugan was also charged with violating the conditions of his parole. He is scheduled to make a preliminary court appearance on May 16 at 9:30 a.m.