FARGO – A cold-blooded killer has finally been brought to justice. Cody James Belgarde, a 37-year-old man from St. Michael, North Dakota, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in a brutal second-degree murder and arson case that shook the small community.
Belgarde was found guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Arson within Indian country in November 2023, following a trial that exposed the depths of his depravity. The jury acquitted him on a charge of First-Degree Murder, but the sentence handed down by Chief Judge Peter D. Welte should serve as a stern warning to anyone who thinks they can get away with such heinous crimes.
The crime, which took place in January 2021, was as senseless as it was brutal. Belgarde shot and killed a 17-year-old boy, leaving his family to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. In a twisted act of vengeance, he then set fire to the house where the murder took place, leaving investigators to sift through the ashes to piece together the evidence.
“The violent murder of this young man was as utterly senseless as it was brutal,” said United States Attorney Mac Schneider. “No amount of time in prison can undo the heart-rending and pointless loss of life in this case, but we hope this sentence provides a measure of justice for the victim’s family.”
The case was investigated by a team of federal and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Conroy and U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider prosecuted the case, working tirelessly to ensure that Belgarde was held accountable for his crimes.
The sentence handed down by Judge Welte should serve as a reminder that justice will not be denied. Belgarde will spend the next 27 years behind bars, a fraction of the time he would have spent if he had been convicted of First-Degree Murder. But for the victim’s family, it is a small measure of closure in a case that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to increasing public safety in Indian country, and this case is a prime example of their dedication to that goal. Belgarde’s sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can commit violent crimes in tribal communities and get away with it.
For more information on this case, please visit the Department of Justice’s website at justice.gov.
Related Federal Cases
- Belgarde Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Murder and Arson · North Dakota
- Dallas Thundershield Guilty in Spirit Lake Double Assault, Murder · North Dakota
- Dallas Wayne Thundershield Guilty of Murder on Spirit Lake Reservation · North Dakota
- Charles Valarian Smith, Sr. Sentenced in New Town Arson Attack · North Dakota
- Gillette Arrested for Murder · North Dakota
Key Facts
- State: North Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime