FARGO - A 28-year-old Moorhead man accused of concealing a pellet gun while at North Dakota State University's downtown campus pleaded not guilty here Thursday morning to a misdemeanor charge stemming from Tuesday's incident, which caused a security alert.
East Central Judicial District Judge Wade Webb set bail at $5,000 cash or bond for Vincent Degidio Jr. and appointed him a public defender.
Degdidio, 3500 8th Ave. S., is accused of possessing a black pellet gun, closely resembling a Colt .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, which was not visible by ordinary observation of a passerby, according to Cass County District Court documents.
Dean Evensen, a custodian, found Degidio in the bathroom of the former Northern School Supply building with the gun Tuesday morning and called 911. After the incident, NDSU secured the building so it could only be accessed with key cards and canceled classes there for the day.
Degidio was arrested about an hour after the incident near the drive-up window at a bank a few blocks away.
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If convicted of the Class A misdemeanor, Degidio faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.
For more on this story, read Friday's Forum.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Brittany Lawonn at (701) 241-5541
