Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Gibbs trials tally more than $75K for Barnes County

Gibbs trials tally more than $75K for Barnes County

Dec 21, 2007 - 04:05:29 CST

VALLEY CITY (AP) - The cost of prosecuting Moe Gibbs for the killing of a Valley City State University student cost Barnes County more than $75,000, the county auditor says.

"We've never had a trial cost us that kind of money," said Ed McGough, who has served as the county's auditor for 21 years.

Gibbs, 35, was convicted of murder last month in Bismarck and was sentenced to life in prison for the September 2006 slaying of Mindy Morgenstern, a 22-year-old student at Valley City State University. The first trial in Minot ended in a deadlocked jury.

The trial in Minot cost about $45,500, McGough said. The second trial cost less because some things, such as DNA testing, could be reused.

McGough said the state picked up the tab for the judge, jury and witnesses.

"We had to take care of security, state's attorneys, travel, meals and medications," McGough said. The biggest expenses were "security and room and board for the prisoner," he said

McGough said Gibbs had a medical expense of $6,000 for an injury he suffered in a fall at the county jail in Fargo. That cost was applied to the second trial, the auditor said.

The county had enough money in its coffers to pay for the trials.

"We're able to cover the cost without having to raise taxes," McGough said. "There are always better places to spend money than doing this, but people have to be punished who deserve to be punished, and people deserve a fair trial because that's the law."

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Comments

Fossilman wrote on Dec 23, 2007 9:47 AM:

" I think a new law should form,if found guilty,you pay the court costs and Lawyers!! "

MM wrote on Dec 22, 2007 11:22 PM:

" I'm not saying what happened to Mindy was not horrible, it was. It amazes me how someone could take another life. What I am saying is that Moe Gibbs was tried twice. The first trial, the jury was deadlocked 6-6 and in his second trial it was 12-0 against him. What changed from the first to the second other than people already having their minds made up. "

to MM wrote on Dec 21, 2007 4:26 PM:

" hanging is cruel and unusual. yes, and so what do you call what he did to mindy? "

Smert wrote on Dec 21, 2007 4:25 PM:

" I know he was convicted but, we all are innocent until proven guilty. That means we all have the right to a fair trial and also appeals. Unfortunately, it should have been much higher as they were not able to higher a more expensive forensic pathologist to help their case. Is he guilty?? According to the jury, yes. Than why didn't the first trial convict him if it was such an open & shut case. Makes a person ?? I feel very sorry for Mindy's family but, hope they got the right guy. "

MM wrote on Dec 21, 2007 3:06 PM:

" PJ I find it very ridiculous that you think we should have "hung him from a tree they day they arrested him." We are in the 21st century now, death by hanging is cruel and unusual. I find it surprising that it had to take two times to convict this man. Although he was convicted it shows something about many people in North Dakota - quick to judge. PJ - think before you speak. "

Too bad wrote on Dec 21, 2007 2:41 PM:

" Too bad we can't make him repay that somehow.... "

PJ wrote on Dec 21, 2007 11:30 AM:

" Should have hung him from a tree the day they arrested him and saved us all a whole lot of pain and suffering not to mention the $$$$. He'll get his well deserved whooping once he is behind bars. "

Judicial wrote on Dec 21, 2007 7:43 AM:

" A case like this comes along which makes one ponder the idea of whether or not it is fair to Barnes County residents to require them to pay for all expenses. A killer just happened to choose their county for work. It could have been any other county for that matter. Would it be far from the realm of possibilities to have a state pool of money that all counties draw from for these type of incidneces. This way, every resident of the state helps pay for all costs associated with crimes, not just those within your county? After all, this could easily have happened to a county with a very small population and limited budget. "

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