Lawmaker Convicted of Misdemeanor in Connection with State Lease
A North Dakota judge on Thursday sentenced state lawmaker Jason Dockter to 250 hours of community service and a $2,500 fine after a jury convicted him of a misdemeanor related to a controversial state-leased building he has ownership in.
Judge Imposes Probation, Deferred Imposition
State District Judge Bobbi Weiler also ordered Republican Rep. Dockter to pay court fees, undergo fingerprinting, and serve unsupervised probation. She granted him a deferred imposition, meaning the conviction will be removed from his record if he completes probation without violations.
Case Involves Leased Building, Cost Overruns
Dockter co-owns companies involved with the building leased by the late Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem in 2020. The lease arrangement drew scrutiny when Stenehjem’s successor disclosed a construction cost overrun exceeding $1 million. Lawmakers raised concerns about transparency and trust.
Conviction Stems from Alleged Voting Conflict
A criminal complaint alleged that Dockter violated state law and legislative rules by voting on bills allocating funds for the property he has a financial interest in.
Judge Cites Financial Gain, Orders Community Service
Judge Weiler granted the deferred imposition but added community service and a fine. She based this on the financial benefit she said Dockter received by voting on a budget bill.
Dockter must complete the community service with homeless organizations within six months.
Calls for Resignation
Democratic House Minority Leader Zac Ista called for Dockter’s resignation after the verdict. Dockter has not yet indicated whether he will appeal or resign.
