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David Alan Wierenga pleaded not guilty on Friday to Class C felony terrorizing, two counts of Class C felony possession of explosives, Class A misdemeanor menacing, Class A misdemeanor harassment, and eight counts of Class A misdemeanor possession of a firearm by someone who is prohibited from possession of firearms because he has been deemed mentally ill.
Wierenga is accused of trying to post a threat to Trinity Health to a Facebook group in May that prompted a multi-hour lockdown at Trinity facilities on May 31. He has also been charged with making other threats to Trinity or its employees and with possession of firearms and explosives after he had been deemed mentally ill by a court order and forbidden to possess them.
Judge Doug Mattson found probable cause for the three felony charges. He said the two C felony possession of explosives charges was a "closer issue" than probable cause for the terrorizing charge and he will entertain further arguments in the future regarding the explosives. Wierenga was reportedly in possession of two grenades that had been given to him by a deceased friend. The grenades were detonated at the landfill after they were deemed too unstable to transport, according to a Minot police officer who testified during the Friday hearing.
A pre-trial conference in the case is scheduled for September.