Skylar Goodman, 19, has been charged with violence against a railroad carrier in relation to an incident that took place on May 7, 2020 in Casselton, ND. The criminal complaint alleges that Mr. Goodman attempted to derail a BNSF cargo train. It’s unclear at this time what the train was hauling.
Generally, someone charged with such a crime would face up to 20 years in prison but because there were several BNSF employees on board the train at the time of the incident, Mr. Goodman faces the potential of life in prison.
U.S. Assistant Attorney, Jennifer Puhl, said she is unable to disclose the details of the incident, including how Mr. Goodman tried to derail the train, because the case is ongoing.
Sgt. Tim Briggeman, with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, said they were “made aware of the situation by BNSF Police on May 8. A train engineer reported rough tracks about a mile west of Casselton near 154th Avenue Southeast…Considering the case is federal at this time, I will be cautious as to what I release and would defer you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for comment.”
BNSF Railway deferred all questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fargo, though it confirmed BNSF police worked with other law enforcement on the investigation. A trial date has been set for November 17, 2020.
Fargo man accused of trying to derail train near Casselton faces life in prison
