BISMARCK - U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on Sept. 21, 2012, Joseph J. Morin, 37, of Belcourt, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patrick A. Conmy on a charge of arson. Morin pleaded guilty to the charge on June 18, 2012.

Judge Conmy sentenced Morin to three years and ten months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Morin was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.

On February 5, 2012, Morin went to a residence in the Belcourt area, where he removed all of the electrical meters, set fire to paper, and threw the burning paper into a dryer vent Morin accessed from the outside. Morin then stuffed a towel into the dryer vent, causing a fire on the inside of the house.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Turtle Mountain Agency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell prosecuted the case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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