Murder charges against Watford City man dismissed
Patrice Bumstead
Farmer Editor
The Class AA Felony Murder charge against Scott Beane of Watford City, was dismissed without prejudice by Northwest Judicial District Judge Daniel El-Dweek on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Special Assistant State’s Attorney for McKenzie County, Nathan Madden filed a Motion for Alternative Disposition on Nov. 25, 2025, should the court find Beane unfit following the evaluator’s report.
Within that report, Madden cited the North Dakota State Hospital evaluator claimed that after 18 months of medication and work to restore competency, Beane “still having delusional ideation about what transpired.”
The evaluation also noted multiple intervention attempts by Beane’s family member and others, spanning over a period of 13 years prior to the murder of his mother on Sept. 12, 2023.
“Obviously, release into the community has been ineffective, and has resulted in the defendant burning his mother to death after having practiced igniting accelerants,” Madden stated in his Motion to the court.
Madden continued “When he is out in the community, Beane commits crimes. He has now progressed to extreme violent behavior...There is no indication that this behavior has been abated, or will be abated in the near future. What is clear, is that if the defendant is out in the general public, he will be a threat to others.”
The Motion describes that Beane’s most recent evaluation reports his extensive history of medication non-compliance, over medication and “self-medication” using illegal drugs such as methamphetamine. As well as continued delusional thoughts deeming him incompetent to stand trial.
Madden stated “...As the court can see , the defendant is willing to plan out a horrific murder and execute those plans, there is absolutely every reason to believe that we will not only be violent in the future, but will actually kill again.”
Judge El-Dweek ordered the case be dismissed with prejudice on Dec. 2, with the following findings and conclusions of law.
Incompetency. The court finds that as a result of mental disease or defect, the defendant lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the proceedings against himself; and assist in his own defense. Pursuant to N.D.C.C. §12.1-04-04 (1) by lack of preponderance of the evidence.
Restorability. The defendant did undergo competency restoration. Based on medical evidence to believe the defendant’s fitness to proceed would be restored, the court extended the period of suspended proceedings to the maximum allowed by law. The defendant is unlikely to regain competency in a reasonable period of time.
The court has ordered Beane to Commitment for Civil Commitment Evaluation for the purpose of filing a civil commitment petition under N.D.C.C. §12.1-04-08(3) the defendant is committed to the North Dakota State Hospital for an evaluation to determine commitment pursuant to N.D.C.C. §12.1-04-08(3) and N.D.C.C. Chapter 25-3.1. The defendant is committed pursuant to an emergency treatment order.
It is ordered that a risk assessment evaluation be completed pursuant to N.D.R.Crim.P.12.2(c) in this case, and for the purpose of any civil commitment proceedings. The defendant shall be held in the State Hospital at least until the risk assessment evaluation is completed.
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