Sandpoint man convicted of Williston homicide

WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) — An Idaho man has been convicted of killing a man outside of a strip club in the western North Dakota oil patch hub of Williston.

Jonathan Horvath, 46, was found guilty Wednesday of murder, two counts of terrorizing and one count of reckless endangerment in the March 2013 death of 28-year-old Derrick Spiegel of Williston. A sentencing date has not been set.

Horvath was on trial in Wahpeton, where the case was moved because of extensive media coverage in Williston.

Authorities said Spiegel was killed on a sidewalk outside a strip club following an argument. Horvath then fled to Billings, Montana, where he was captured on March 18, two days after the shooting.

The reckless endangerment charge stems from Horvath allegedly firing into the bar. No one was hurt.

Horvath had moved to Williston from Sandpoint, Idaho, to find work in the oil patch. He had been living in North Dakota only five days when the killing occurred, the Williston Herald previously reported. He once lived in California and has a criminal history there, including an attempted murder charge in 1993, to which he pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Horvath testified at trial that he was nervous about going to Williston after hearing reports about crime in the area.