Date: 01-29-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 3:17-cr-00091-RRE

Judge: Ralph R. Erickson

Court: United States District Court for the District of North Dakota (Cass County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Jacob T. Rodenbiker

Defendant's Attorney: Steve Mottinger

Description: Columbus, OH - Fort Totten Man Sentenced on Firearms Charges

DANIEL MICHAEL TWOHEARTS, age 24, of Fort Totten, ND, was sentenced before Circuit Court Judge Ralph R. Erickson (sitting by designation), on drug trafficking and firearms charges, specifically: Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. TwoHearts was sentenced to serve 25 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, as well as pay $400 in special assessments and $482.99 in restitution.

This case came to the attention of law enforcement on the evening of February 2, 2017, when a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper attempted to pull the defendant over regarding a traffic offense which occurred on Interstate 29 near Grand Forks, ND. TwoHearts did not pull over, but continued toward Hillsboro where a Hillsboro police officer joined the pursuit. Approximately one mile south of Hillsboro, Traill County deputy sheriffs deployed spike strips, which disabled the pickup being driven by TwoHearts. TwoHearts exited the vehicle and fired a handgun in the direction of the trooper and police officer, neither of whom were struck. TwoHearts then fled on foot, which led to a multi-agency manhunt. Discovered near the pickup where TwoHearts had previously been was approximately five ounces of pure methamphetamine.

TwoHearts was eventually located in Devils Lake, North Dakota, after stealing three different vehicles along the way. During a brief standoff with law enforcement in Devils Lake, TwoHearts shot himself in the chest with the same handgun he had fired at the trooper and police officer near Hillsboro. At that point Two Hearts was apprehended and arrested without further incident.

TwoHearts was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal, with eight prior burglary convictions, and was on state probation at the time of the instant offense. TwoHearts previously pled guilty in state court on charges relating to him stealing motor vehicles and endangering an infant in the course of fleeing from law enforcement.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the North Dakota State Highway Patrol, Hillsboro Police Department, Traill County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Parole & Probation, North Dakota Crime Lab, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Benson County Sheriff’s Office, Devils Lake Police Department, Lake Region Narcotics Task Force, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Forks SWAT, CBP, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Polk County, MN, Sheriff’s Office.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to serve 25 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, as well as pay $400 in special assessments and $482.99 in restitution.

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Defendant's Experts:

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