WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) - Prosecutors have dropped a murder conspiracy charge against one of the six suspects accused in the slaying of Williston-area hobby rancher Jack Sjol a year ago.
The charge against Ronald Gibbons was dismissed without prejudice on March 6, meaning prosecutors can refile it if new evidence comes to light.
The Williams County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment on the matter, and the state’s attorney’s office listed the reason only as “prosecutorial discretion,” according to The Williston Herald (https://bit.ly/1iztBtJ ).
A spokeswoman for prosecutor Nathan Madden declined comment to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Defense attorney Rhiannon Gorham did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.
Gibbons and the others were charged in the shooting death of Jack Sjol, whose body was found in a garbage dump May 14 after his family reported him missing. Sjol had bullet wounds to his head, face and upper left arm. Police have not discussed a possible motive for the killing.
In October, prosecutors also dropped the conspiracy case against another of the suspects, Jeremy Weyrauch, without giving a reason for the decision.
Ryan Stensaker is still scheduled for trial in July on a murder conspiracy charge. Others involved in the case - siblings Issac and Teresa Steen, and Amber Jensen - have trials scheduled in April on charges of criminal facilitation or hindering law enforcement.
___
Information from: Williston Herald, https://www.willistonherald.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.