WILLISTON – A man who pled not guilty to eight felony charges has had a trial date set for July 17, 2024, in Northwest District court. The action came during an appearance before Judge Kirsten Sjue Monday afternoon.
Ross Petrie, 29, Pocatello, Idaho, was charged with six counts related to drug manufacturing or possession, one count of Possession or Sale of Machine Gun, Auto Rifle, Silencer, Bomb, and one count of Release of Destructive Forces-Willfully-Risk in October and November of 2022.
On October 10, 2022, the Minot Bomb Squad responded to a request from Williston law enforcement for assistance. According to an affidavit filed with the court, a Northwest Narcotics Task Force was executing warrants at a Williston townhouse believed to contain a narcotics lab. Inspection of a garage revealed the presence of a large amount of explosives.
Police evacuated 10 units of the townhouse. Minot Bomb Squad personnel estimated that approximately 1,000 pounds of explosives was visible inside the garage.
The charges against Petrie as a result of the incident include one Class A felony, four Class B felonies, and three Class C felonies. Class A felonies have a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, B felonies 10 years, and C felonies 5 years.
