Man convicted in standoff gets 20 years

FINLEY, N.D. (AP) — A man convicted of trying to kill a law enforcement officer during an April 2008 standoff has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Darin Dahl of Cooperstown was convicted in June of attempted murder and reckless endangerment. He was accused of firing at officers while holed up in a house in Luverne for more than 20 hours. A bullet fragment struck the helmet of a Fargo police officer who was part of the Red River Valley SWAT team that surrounded the house.

The 35-year-old Dahl also was convicted of reckless endangerment last year for shooting at a home in rural Griggs County.

Prosecutor Charlie Stock told Judge Steven Marquart on Wednesday that it's "time Mr. Dahl face the music for his acts."

Defense attorney Blake Hankey said Dahl, who suffers from schizophrenia, does well when he is on his proper medication and is monitored. Hankey sought a five-year sentence, and said he will appeal.

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