WATFORD CITY – The man charged with the hit-and-run death of a 6-year-old boy had his pretrial conference canceled Thursday. Attorneys cited the reason as a failure to reach an agreement. A trial date in the matter has been set for September 18 in Northwest District Court.
Julian Montoya, 20, Watford City, is charged with Negligent Homicide-Child Victim, and Duty in accident involving death or injury-death. Both are felonies which could result in up to 15 years in prison if convicted on both counts.
The charges stem from an April 8, 2023, incident shortly before 7 p.m. at the Madison Heights Apartments. Law enforcement responded to a report of a vehicle striking a child on a bicycle. Upon arrival on the scene in the garage area of the apartments a witness told a responding officer that a Toyota “going too fast” stuck the child and did not stop. The driver of the Toyota was later identified as Montoya.
According to an affidavit filed by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the child’s fatal injuries were consistent with a forceful impact causing severe head trauma. Both the child and the bicycle were dragged by the Toyota, reads the affidavit, with the bicycle remaining wedged under the front axle of the vehicle.
Montoya reportedly left the scene on foot but returned 5-10 minutes after the arrival of law enforcement.
