New Town Man Sentenced for Assault of Casino Security Officer
MINOT - U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on October 15, 2012, Thomas J. Edwards Jr., 28, of New Town, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge
Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Edwards
pleaded guilty to the charge on March 29, 2012.
Judge Hovland sentenced Edwards to four years in federal prison, to be followed
by three years of supervised release. Edwards was ordered to pay a $100 special
assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.
On April 5, 2011, Edwards was at the Four Bears Casino located near New Town.
Edwards was contacted by the casino security officers because of an outstanding tribal
arrest warrant. Edwards ran from the security officers and entered a vehicle. While
backing up in the vehicle, Edwards ran over the leg of a security officer, which resulted in
multiple fractures to the officer’s leg.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Fort Berthold Agency,
Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department and Four Bears Casino Security.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.
