Fargo attorney faces assault, theft charges

FARGO (AP) — A Fargo attorney and former federal prosecutor has been formally charged with two counts of misdemeanor theft, disorderly conduct and simple assault.

One of the charges against Dennis Fisher, 64, stems from his Friday arrest on suspicion of shoplifting a hunting knife from the Sportsman’s Warehouse in Fargo. After further investigation po-lice believe Fisher also stole a knife from the store in May, Police Chief Keith Ternes said.

It is the third time in 12 years that Fisher has been accused of shoplifting. The other charges against him in the Friday incident are the result of what authorities say was a scuffle be-tween Fisher and store employees who confronted him.

The struggle spilled over to the property of a neighboring store and an off-duty Barnes County sheriff’s deputy helped employees handcuff Fisher before he was arrested by police.

Steve Light, Fisher’s defense attorney, has said Fisher suffered minor injuries during the incident and is “very distraught” over the arrest. Light did not comment on the four misdemeanor charges. Each is punishable upon conviction by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Fisher was arrested in 1996 and 1997 for shoplifting. He pleaded guilty in the 1997 case and admitted guilt in the 1996 case as part of attorney disciplinary proceedings. He also resigned from his position as an assistant U.S. attorney in 1997 following the arrests. He had held the position for 15 years.

Under terms of a settlement with the North Dakota Supreme Court in 1997, Fisher would lose his law license for two years if he was caught stealing again. Paul Jacobson, attorney for the state Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board, said no decision had been made regarding possible punishment.

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