Charges against woman accused in Selfridge post office fire will go before grand jury

Federal charges against a 33-year-old woman accused of vandalizing and setting fire to the Selfridge post office will be presented to a grand jury for potential indictment and trial.

At a hearing held Monday in Bismarck, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Miller agreed that federal prosecutors gave sufficient evidence against Melody Walker-White Twin to take a criminal case to its next step. No date was announced.

Miller also agreed to a request that Walker-White Twin be held in custody until she can be placed in a residential treatment facility. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rappenecker's request modified a federal pre-trial services recommendation that Walker-White Twin be immediately placed in a treatment facility.

"I don't know when that will be, sometimes there's a waiting list," Miller said of space in a residential facility.

Defense attorney Max Rudy opposed the request, arguing that Walker-White Twin should be released into family member's custody until a placement is secured.

Walker-White Twin faces a potential indictment on two counts - arson and destruction of government property exceeding $1,000 - related to vandalism and a fire that destroyed the 105-year-old post office in Selfridge overnight on Sept. 15.

During Monday's hearing, FBI Special Agent Wyatt Garber testified to Walker-White Twin's alleged involvement, saying interviews conducted with two witnesses following the fire implicated her.

One witness identified as "Mary," according to Garber's testimony, allegedly witnessed Walker-White Twin throw what was referred to as a brick through a window at the post office on Sunday, Sept 15. The woman then observed Walker-White Twin set fire to envelopes in the buildings entry way, according to the agent's testimony.

Those envelopes did not immediately ignite the building, but the agent testified that employees of the U.S. Postal Service who came to Selfridge later Sunday to inspect the reported damage smelled smoke inside but were unable to identify any source.

Those employees boarded over the broken windows and estimated damages at more than $1,000, according to Garber's testimony.

Rudy didn't offer arguments against the destruction charge, but she did oppose the arson allegation, pointing to what the referred to as a "gap" of time between when postal workers left Selfridge and when Garber was initially notified that the building had burned.

"There are no arson reports, no investigation reports, nor has a cause been determined," Rudy said. "Those might still be coming, but we haven't heard anything as of yet about the fire."

Garber's affidavit stated that both witnesses told investigators Walker-White Twin made comments about wanting to "burn the town down." He repeated those comments during Monday's hearing.

Garber also noted that Walker-White Twin was initially arrested by The Bureau of Indian Affairs and charged with crimes in tribal court, where, according to Garber, she has already pleaded guilty to vandalism and criminal mischief.

Reach Brad Nygaard at 701-250-8260 or

Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.