FARGO — A trial has been set in the case of a Horace, N.D., man charged with threatening his ex-wife with a shotgun in March 2018, an incident that was followed by a five-hour standoff with police .
Lance Belgarde, 52, appeared in Cass County District Court on Friday, Aug. 23, for what was initially slated as a change of plea hearing on three felony counts Belgarde faced: burglary with a firearm, terrorizing and felonious restraint.
During the hearing, the defense made it clear Belgarde did not wish to change his plea on any of those charges but instead wished to continue the case to a jury trial.
The trial, expected to last about four days, is set to begin in December.
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On the early morning of March 14, Belgarde allegedly broke into his ex-wife’s house in Horace carrying a shotgun and began threatening her, court papers show.
Belgarde’s ex-wife, Kim Belgarde, said he kept repeating he had “two bullets: one for Kim and one for him,” court papers show.
Kim Belgarde was able to reach emergency dispatchers and then eventually escape through the back door when authorities reached the house, court papers show.
Another man who was in the bedroom, Mark Olson, was able to run out the front door when Lance Belgarde went into one of the bathrooms, court papers show.
Police received the emergency call about 5:17 a.m., and were involved in an armed standoff with Lance Belgarde until shortly after 10 a.m. when he was arrested. No shots were fired, and no law enforcement officers were hurt in the standoff.
