Bismarck Tribune

By JENNYMICBy JENNYMICHAEL

A Bismarck man accused of accidentally shooting another man in the leg at a rural Bismarck shooting range is now being held without bond at the Burleigh County Detention Center for using alcohol.

Shannon Dale Neva, 35, was charged on Aug. 18 with reckless endangerment, a Class C felony, and disobedience of a judicial order, a Class Amisdemeanor, for the Aug. 17 shooting.

Neva pleaded not guilty to the charges on Oct. 9 and is slated to make his next appearance in court on the charges on Nov. 13.

South Central District Judge Sonna Anderson had set a $25,000 cash bond for Neva on Aug. 19, which had been posted. Anderson included in the bond order provisions prohibiting Neva from possessing alcohol or firearms.

Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Julie Lawyer said Thursday that Neva has been using alcohol, so she requested he be held without bond until a hearing can be held in front of South Central District Judge Thomas Schneider. Schneider had been assigned to preside over Neva's case.

South Central District Judge David Reich granted the request, despite Neva's protests that he has not used alcohol.

According to a Bismarck Police Department report, Neva was arrested for disorderly conduct Oct. 4. He had been at O'Brien's Tavern, was intoxicated and began falling asleep at the bar, the report said. It said bar staff asked him to leave and he became aggressive.

Officers arrived and saw Neva walk to the Comfort Inn, the report said.It said Neva became belligerent and aggressive when officers told him to get a ride home, so they arrested him for disorderly conduct and later released him to the custody of his father.

Lawyer filed a motion Oct. 9 to revoke Neva's bond because of his alcohol use.

Schneider signed the motion to revoke Neva's bail, forfeit his bond and issue a bench warrant for his arrest on Oct. 19, and a bench warrant was issued Oct. 25, according to court documents.

Burleigh County Sheriff's Major Nick Sevart said Neva was arrested on the warrant Wednesday afternoon and was placed in the Burleigh County Detention Center at 5 p.m.

Neva has been accused of shooting Steve Peterson, 46, of Bismarck, in the leg on Aug. 17. Witnesses said Neva and another man were struggling over the weapon, authorities said. Peterson tried to break it up, and witnesses said Neva fired the shot that struck Peterson in the leg.

Peterson, Neva and the other man had gone to McLean Bottoms rifle range together, authorities said.

Neva had been served with a temporary restraining order Aug. 17 that banned him from using or possessing firearms. Authorities said he purchased a .50-caliber handgun later that day.

Neva said at a court appearance Thursday that he has been living with his parents and working seven days a week since his August arrest.

"I don't drink,"he said. "I don't do anything."

He said he is going to join Alcoholics Anonymous and pursue other treatment options.

"I guess I'm just asking for a chance to prove myself,"he said.

Lawyer maintained her request that Neva be held without bond.

"His drinking presents too great of a risk to the community," she said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com)