45 #NoDAPL Cases Dismissed; Warrants Quashed Upon Review Ordered by Judiciary

Masked warriors on top of destruction machinery at Dakota Access Pipeline construction, North Dakota. Photo: West Coast Women Warriors Media Cooperative.

North Dakota prosecutors abandon dozens of cases due to no “good faith belief that the underlying charges can be proven.”

 

By Water Protector Legal Collective, January 31, 2019

On December 7, 2018, Water Protector Legal Collective received an early winter solstice gift that we have had to keep confidential until now. On behalf of the judiciary in the South Central Judicial District, North Dakota, Judge Gail Hagerty ordered the State’s Attorney’s office to review, within 30 days, all NoDAPL cases attached to 84 inactive warrants. Judge Hagerty wrote:

Red Fawn Fallis Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison

Unicorn Riot, July 11, 2018

Bismarck, ND – Red Fawn Fallis, a political prisoner arrested during the movement to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline, was sentenced today in federal court by Judge Daniel Hovland. Fallis was sentenced to 57 months (4.75 years) in federal prison. She will receive a credit of 18 months ‘time served’ taken off of her sentence, from time spent in North Dakota jails before trial proceedings began. Fallis is expected to serve a total of 39 months in prison followed by 3 years probation.

NoDAPL Water Protector Sentenced to Thirty-Six Months by Federal Judge

Leoyla Cowboy and Little Feather

Unicorn Riot, May 30, 2018

Bismarck, ND – Micheal “Little Feather” Giron was sentenced by Chief Judge Daniel Hovland to thirty six months for Civil Disorder charges stemming from the October 27th, 2016 defense of the Oceti Sakowin treaty camp during the #NoDAPL movement.

Stonewalled by federal court, Red Fawn Fallis changes plea

Red Fawn Fallis

by C.S. Hagen, High Plains Reader, January 16th, 2018

FARGO – Red Fawn Fallis, the woman charged with firing a handgun during the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy, changed her plea Tuesday to guilty after federal prosecutors agreed to drop one of her charges.

Standing Rock Water Protector Found Guilty of Felony

Rodrick Joe in court today in Morton County, with his attorney Amanda Harris (seated)

Water Protector Legal Collective, January 5, 2018

MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTA – The first of the trials from the November 15, 2106 action in commemoration of missing and murdered indigenous women concluded today. Water Protector Rodrick Joe was convicted of Tampering with a Public Service, a Class C felony.

More than $600,000 spent on police gear for pipeline protests

Costs for policing the #NoDAPL protests reached $35 million.

CBS News, Dec 16, 2017

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota law enforcement purchased more than $600,000 worth of body armor, tactical equipment and crowd control devices during the height of protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, state invoices show.

Canadian Indigenous activist in North Dakota court to face Standing Rock charges

Kanahus Manuel was arrested near the construction of the North Dakota Access Pipeline Oct. 22

By Brandi Morin, CBC News, October 3, 2017

A Secwepemc activist from B.C. is in a North Dakota court today to face charges stemming from her involvement with protests in Standing Rock.

Kanahus Manuel was among dozens of people arrested near the construction of the North Dakota Access Pipeline last Oct. 22.

Energy firm behind Dakota Access Pipeline sues demonstrators

By David Ward, APTN National News, August 23, 2017

The company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline is suing Greenpeace and other organizations it has labeled as “rogue environmental groups and militant individuals.”

Energy Transfer Partners filed the lawsuit with U.S. federal court on August 22.

The company alleges the group of “co-conspirators manufactured and disseminated materially false and misleading information about Energy Transfer and the Dakota Access Pipeline for the purpose of fraudulently inducing donations, interfering with pipeline construction activities and damaging Energy Transfer’s critical business and financial relationships.”

Two Women Claim Responsibility for Arson Attacks to Stop DAPL

National guard trucks burn bright during night of October 27, 2016, raid (unrelated to the claims of sabotage by the two women).

By Unicorn Riot, July 24, 2017

Des Moines, IA – Unicorn Riot has received a press release from two women claiming responsibility for arson attacks and valve sabotage against the Dakota Access Pipeline. In the video below, these two women from Iowa publicly state their sabotage actions against the Dakota Access Pipeline and turn themselves in. Unicorn Riot is covering their surrender to authorities today.

Red Fawn Fallis Gets Trial Date and Conditional Release in Standing Rock Case

Red Fawn Fallis.

By Chris Walker, West Word, Thursday, July 6, 2017

Red Fawn Fallis, a member of Denver’s indigenous community, has been in jail in North Dakota ever since she was arrested at Standing Rock on October 27, 2016; she is the most seriously charged water protector, having been accused of possessing and discharging a firearm as she was being restrained by police near construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.