(Spirit Lake)– A bond reduction hearing was held this (Monday) morning in Dickinson County District Court for three men accused of first degree murder in the death of a Sioux Falls man.
Scott Adair and John Swan…both of Crosett, Arkansas, and Michael Friedrichs of Forest City are accused of being involved in a fight on April 4th of this year outside the Zipper’s Gentleman’s Club in Milford. 25-year-old Matthew Begtrup of Sioux Falls later died of injuries sustained in the altercation.
All three defendants were working for a Minnesota company that was building a wind farm in western Dickinson county at the time.
In the hearing, Adair told Judge Patrick Carr he’s currently married and has five children, several of them through previous marriages. He said he’s confident he’d be able to get his job back once he’s released from jail, saying he needs to pay bills and support his family. On cross-examination, prosecuting attorney John Martin outlined an extensive criminal history of Adair. Mike Johnson, an attorney representing Adair, told the judge that even in light of the criminal history, that his client isn’t violent.
Friedrichs, who was a safety coordinator for the company, told the court he isn’t married and has no children. He said he hasn’t heard back from his supervisor as to if he’d have his job back if released from jail, but said he could go to work for his uncle who, along with his parents and other family members, live in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Upon cross examination Martin outlined an extensive criminal history of Friedrichs, citing numerous arrests for driving under the influence, assault on a peace officer and others.
Gayle Chappell, the mother of the third defendant in the case, John Swan, testified that Swan has two children…ages 10 and three. She said Swan has custody of one, his ex-wife the other.
In final arguments, Ned Bjornstad, an attorney representing Friedrichs, said they, like everyone else, greatly regret the death of Begtrup, adding the defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, along with a non-excessive bail. Bjornstad added the defendant’s incarceration is affecting their ability to meet with attorneys to prepare their cases.
In arguing for no reduction in the bond, Martin expressed concern none of the three defendants have local ties and again cited the criminal histories of Adair and Friedrichs.
Judge Carr took the hearing under advisement, saying he’ll issue a ruling in the “near to immediate future”.
Bond for all three defendants was originally set at 750-thousand dollars.
