St. Michael man sentenced to 27 years in prison for second-degree murder and arson

FARGO (KVRR) – A St. Michael, ND, man was sentenced to 327 months in prison after he was found guilty of second-degree murder and arson. 37-year-old Cody Belgarde was found guilty of shooting and killing a 17-year-old boy in January 2021, and then set the home on fire.

“The violent murder of this young man was as utterly senseless as it was brutal,” United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota said. “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 United States Attorney’s Office is deeply committed to increasing public safety in Indian country, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute perpetrators of violent crime in tribal communities.”

Belgarde will serve 27 years.