Court roundup: Men get prison time in Herreid bar fire

Feb. 23--Two North Dakota men got a year in prison each for their roles in a 2015 fire at the Road House Bar and Grill in Herreid.

Tyler Ambrust, 23, and Ryan Kaelberer, 20, both of Minot, N.D., were sentenced Friday on felony conspiracy to commit arson, Campbell County State's Attorney Mark Kroontje said. Both men admitted their roles in the fire that damaged the bar.

Kroontje assisted in the prosecution of those connected to the Road House fire. Lead prosecutor in this case was Mikal Hanson, assistant attorney general.

"The state recommended time in custody in the county jail," Kroontje said.

The judge's sentence required that the two serve time in prison, he said.

Both were fined $104 and are ordered to repay their court-appointed attorney fees. They'll be parole-eligible after they serve about four months.

"It was emphasized at the sentencing hearing that arson is a crime of violence," Kroontje said.

Cheyenne Davis, 19, of Pollock currently awaits sentencing. She also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson. All three testified in the jury trial earlier this month for the owner of the bar, Lori Brandner, 41, of Herreid who was found guilty of arson, conspiracy to commit arson and filing a fraudulent insurance claim.

According to court documents, the four are accused of discussing on Jan. 20, 2015, a plan to burn the bar. They're also accused of gathering and testing flammable liquids to "determine what flammable agent should be spread around the bar and grill to create a sufficient fire."

Brandner presently awaits sentencing, but according to court documents, her attorney filed a motion for acquittal Jan. 12.

Within his motion for acquittal, Brandner's attorney, Brad Schreiber of Pierre, said he disagrees with the court's response to one of the questions asked by the jury during deliberation. In that question, the jury asked for clarification on one of the jury instructions.

This particular jury instruction lists criteria with which to determine Brandner's guilt:

-- That she acted with the intent to destroy the Road House Bar and Grill and collect the insurance money.

-- That the persons the defendant aided and abetted acted with the intent to destroy the bar.

During deliberations, the jury asked if one factor or the other could be used in determining guilt, and the court's response was yes.

In other court news

-- Peter M. Danielson, 33, of Sioux Falls pleaded guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine. He was fined $104 and sentenced to five years in prison with two years and six months suspended. The sentence will be served once he completes the terms of an existing prison sentence.

-- Joshua Turman, 27, of Watertown pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by someone who has a prior felony conviction. He was fined $854 and sentenced to two years in prison with credit for time served.

-- Ryan A. Enlow, 29, of Aberdeen pleaded guilty to his third driving under the influence offense. He was fined $939, received a two-year suspended prison sentence and was ordered to serve 30 days in jail with four days credit for time served. His driver's license was revoked for one year.

-- Nicholasa R. Farmer, 24, of Aberdeen pleaded guilty to unauthorized ingestion of methamphetamine. Farmer was ordered to pay $104 in fines and sentenced to five years in prison with four years suspended.

-- In Day County, Travis M. Bloom, 27, of Webster pleaded guilty to felony ingestion of methamphetamine. He was fined $104 and sentenced to five years in prison with three years suspended. His sentence will be served at the same time as an existing prison sentence on a separate case.

-- In Spink County, Jeremy Ward, 29, of Redfield pleaded guilty to felony ingestion of methamphetamine. He was fined $804 and sentenced to 45 days in jail with nine days suspended.

Follow @ElisaSand_aan on Twitter.

___

(c)2016 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

Visit the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) at www.aberdeennews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.