Dickinson man accused of running over his wife; charged with attempted murder

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A 29-year-old Dickinson man accused of running over his wife with his pickup truck in December is charged with attempted murder and additional charges may be filed, officials said during a hearing at the Stark County Courthouse Monday afternoon.

Tyler Pelton was charged with aggravated assault and driving under suspension shortly after the incident.

However, the attempted murder charge wasn’t filed with the court until Monday, according to the North Dakota Supreme Court website.

“Initially there was some question that led me to wonder about identification by the victim that would affect, in my mind, level of intent,” Stark County State’s Attorney Tom Henning said after the hearing.

However, follow-up information led him to file the additional charge.

Prior to the incident, Pelton’s wife had returned the pickup to their residence, expecting to take him to the doctor, Henning said.

She left the vehicle at their residence and began walking to her mother’s home and Pelton allegedly ran her over shortly after, he added.

His wife required surgery to remove her colon and part of her diaphragm, according to court records.

The incident “constituted a step toward the commission of the crime murder, when the defendant attempted to cause the death of another human being,” according to Pelton’s most recent criminal complaint.

The additional charge is a Class A felony and more severe than the other two charges.

“There are likely to be additional charges,” Henning said at the hearing. “I have information indicating an attempt by the defendant to make contact with the victim, which is prohibited by court order and by a protection order.”

The order also prohibit Pelton from contacting his three children.

“It appears that he tried to make contact with his wife in violation of both the bond order and the protection order through a letter to a third party,” Henning said.

Pelton was scheduled for a preliminary hearing, but in light of the new charge and possibility of more, Judge William Herauf agreed with attorneys to postpone it. Pelton will now have hearings for all charges simultaneously.

He faces a maximum combined punishment of 31 years in prison and a fine of $22,000 for the three charges.

Pelton’s bond was set at $100,000 cash on Dec. 17. If he is released, he will be subjected to alcohol and drug testing, according to court records.

He is being held at the Southwest Multi County Correction Center in Dickinson.

Kevin McCabe, Pelton’s attorney, declined comment after the hearing.

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