Ben Pifher/MDN Laquint Tydelle Sarvis, allegedly involved in a shooting in downtown Minot on Sunday, appeared in North Central District Court in Minot via Zoom on Monday.

A Fayetteville, North Carolina, man alleged to have injured two people in a shooting in downtown Minot early Sunday morning made his initial court appearance Monday.

Laquint Tydelle Sarvis, 23, faces one charge of reckless endangerment-extreme indifference-dangerous weapon, and one charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, both Class C felonies. Further charges are pending investigation by police. The charges so far carry a maximum punishment of five years in the state penitentiary, fines of $10,000 or both, and because of the weapons charges, Sarvis is facing a mandatory two-year term of incarceration without parole.

Sarvis, who also was injured in return gunfire, is facing one charge of reckless endangerment instead of two because one of the two victims needed emergency surgery and has been in intensive care treatment, with no opportunity to speak with prosecutors. The prosecution also was unable to locate a bullet and is working to find witnesses.

According to the prosecution, there is video evidence that Sarvis had fired at least one shot in proximity to 40-50 people. Sarvis has faced multiple weapons charges in the past, including firing a weapon into a residence.

The state is pushing for information on a pending case of unlawful possession of a firearm, previous conviction of theft and various convictions in South Carolina. These charges include attempted murder in 2022, which Sarvis pleaded down to first degree assault and battery. Additionally, Sarvis has been convicted of discharging a firearm into a dwelling and has a charge for unlawful possession of a firearm that may have a possible warrant, according to the prosecution. Because of these charges, the prosecution requested a $100,000 cash bond and that Sarvis have no contact with the victims.

Sarvis stated that for the charges already against him, he has a preliminary hearing which could go either way. He further explained the 2022 plea deal could have been reduced further, stating, “If I had a lawyer, I would have beat that (aggravated assault charge) too, because the situation, and I feel like that shouldn’t be brought up against me in this case, but it is what it is. I got bills. I got stuff to pay out there,” he said.

The prosecution brought up that Sarvis should still be on probation following previous charges. “For my probation from the first degree assault,” Sarvis interrupted, “I did receive five years probation with that, and on August 15, 2023, I was given time served for the remainder of my probation.” According to Sarvis, he is no longer on probation. Before Sarvis spoke, he was cautioned by North Central District Judge Gary Lee that anything he said was on record and could be used against him in the case.

Lee agreed to the prosecution’s recommendations, citing the mandatory minimum sentence Sarvis faces, the seriousness of the alleged crimes, his tenuous connection to North Dakota and public safety. The recommendations include a $100,000 cash-only bond, no-contact order with victims, surrender of all firearms and dangerous weapons to the Ward County Sheriff’s Office, notification of change of address and restriction to North Dakota borders except with court approval.

Sarvis had not spoken with a lawyer and said he intended to file an application for a public defender.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug.1 and a pretrial conference for Oct. 9.