A man accused of setting a fire that heavily damaged a Somali restaurant in Grand Forks has made his first appearance on a federal complaint. Twenty-five-year-old Matthew Gust, of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, is facing charges of malicious use of an explosive device and use of a destructive device during a crime of violence.
The Dec. 7 fire at the Juba Coffee House was started by a homemade explosive that was made with a 40-ounce beer bottle. It happened three days after vandals spray-painted what some have described as a Nazi-like symbol on the business, along with the words “go home.”
Gust was not asked to enter a plea at Tuesday’s hearing. A detention hearing is scheduled Friday.
Gust was originally charged in state court with felony arson.
| Lock him up for a good 50 years. Arson is an ugly, ugly crime. |
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