David Diaz Jr

A Minot man was sentenced for two separate cases after pleading guilty to a count of theft and possessing a controlled substance-methamphetamine-second offense, both Class C felonies.

David Diaz Jr, 40, Minot, entered a change of plea of guilty to the two incidents, which both occurred in August 2023.

The first charge stemmed from an incident on Aug. 5, 2023, where Diaz brandished a firearm at a driver and his passengers who stopped to check on him as he walked along the side of the road on East Burdick Expressway. Court documents indicated that the two alleged victims were made to fear for their lives due to Diaz’s alleged actions, resulting in Diaz being arrested and charged with two counts of terrorizing, both Class C felonies. Ward County Jail staff later located a substance determined to be meth in Diaz’s possession, resulting in the third count of possession of a controlled substance.

The second incident related to the theft of a bicycle that occurred on Aug. 22, where Diaz stole a bicycle valued at $1,800 belonging to an acquaintance he was drinking with. Diaz was questioned by police at the Ward County Jail, where he stated that the victim had “traded” him for the bicycle but declined to comment further.

Diaz appeared in North Central District Court before Judge Richard Hagar for a change of plea hearing on the two matters on Feb. 16.

The two counts of terrorizing were dismissed in the first matter, and the felony possession charge was deemed a misdemeanor. Diaz was ordered to serve 360 days in the Ward County Jail, to first serve 33 days with credit for 33 days already served. Diaz was ordered to complete one year of supervised probation, and complete a chemical dependency evaluation. Diaz was assessed $525 in court fines and fees.

The felony theft charge was also deemed a misdemeanor, with Hagar sentencing Diaz to serve 360 days in the Ward County Jail, to first serve 106 days with credit for 106 days already served. Diaz was ordered to complete one day of supervised probation, and have no contact with the victim or go within 150 feet of his residence. Diaz was assessed $1,100 in court fines and fees, along with $3,546.43 in restitution to the victim.