MINOT — A young woman charged with murder had a glimpse of what her future may hold during her initial court appearance Wednesday.
Seated in an orange jumpsuit and secured in handcuffs, Heather Hoffman, 24, Minot, listened as Judge Douglas Mattson explained to her that her charged offense of murder is a AA felony and, if found guilty, is punishable by a maximum of a life sentence without parole. Hoffman nodded gently to the bench that she understood the penalty she was facing.
Hoffman was arrested by Minot Police late Tuesday afternoon, April 26, on the murder charge and transported her to the Ward County Jail. The victim was Alexander Eckert, 22, Minot. At 12:41 a.m. Friday, April 22, police discovered Eckert’s lifeless body in the doorway of a NW Minot residence.
According to an affidavit filed with the court, Eckert was shot in the face with a single bullet. A spent cartridge casing was found near the body. Hoffman and Eckert have been involved in a child custody dispute, with a May 6 hearing scheduled in which Eckert was preparing to receive temporary custody.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the state maintained they have “overwhelming evidence” of Hoffman’s guilt. They asked that bond be set at $1 million and that Hoffman have “no contact” with her child.
Defense attorney Ryan Sandberg asked for a lower bond amount, saying that Hoffman had family in the area and that she would stay around. Mattson responded that he was setting Hoffman’s bond at $500,000 and maintained the no contact order, telling the defense that he would work with Child Services if a supervised visit was proposed.
A Preliminary Hearing was scheduled for June 9, and a Pretrial Conference on August 17.
