East Grand Forks man pleads not guilty to second federal charge in fire at Somali restaurant

Tuesday March 29, 2016

Matthew Gust

GRAND FORKS — An East Grand Forks, Minn., man accused of setting fire to a Somali restaurant in Grand Forks pleaded not guilty to a second charge Monday in federal court.

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Matthew William Gust was initially indicted on the charge of malicious use of explosive materials, but through a superseding indictment filed March 16, Gust faces a second charge, use of a destructive device during a crime of violence.

The 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to the first charge in January, and he pleaded the same to the second charge Monday in federal court.

Police say Gust started the Dec. 8 fire damaging Juba Coffee House and Restaurant at 2017 S. Washington St. He filled a 40-ounce beer bottle with gasoline, broke the window of Juba and threw the bottle inside, resulting in an explosion that cause $90,000 in damage, police claim.

Gust faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison — five years for malicious use of explosive materials and 30 years for use of a destructive device during a crime of violence.

He could also be required to pay restitution to the victims.

Currently, Gust must remain in custody until his trial May 3, but Gust’s attorney, Theodore Sandberg, said he is planning to file a motion to discuss again whether Gust could be released from jail before then. There would be another hearing to decide on that motion.

As Gust is going through his trial, the owners of Juba are going through insurance steps to, hopefully, reopen Juba.

“It’s been a very complex process,” Cynthia Shabb, executive director of Global Friends Coalition in Grand Forks, said.

The insurance coverage is starting to come through, but the process isn’t complete yet, Shabb said. While there’s no timeline for reopening Juba, the owners hope to stay on Washington Street, she said.

“They really want to reopen a restaurant, and they want it to be in Grand Forks,” Shabb said.

A GoFundMe page was set up by former UND professor Colleen Berry after the fire to support the restaurant. In the more than three months since the incident, 568 people have raised $24,466 on the site.

The Global Friends Coalition also collected names of 363 supporters on its website, telling the Juba owners, “This is your home. You are welcome here. We are glad that you are part of this community.”

Days before the fire, the words “go home” and Nazi-style symbols were painted on the store, though police have not said if the two incidents were connected.

Police also have not released a motive for the fire, and it’s unlikely one will be released as the court case and potential new developments continue.

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