MORTON COUNTY, N.D. — A Fort Yates man who was briefly mistaken for a Montana mass shooting suspect is now facing serious felony charges in Morton County.
Robert Rinehart, 58, pleaded not guilty on Monday to multiple charges, including methamphetamine possession with intent to deliver and identity theft, following two separate investigations that have since been combined, according to court records.
Mistaken Identity Leads to Arrest
Rinehart was taken into custody on August 3 after a caller tipped authorities, alleging he may have been Michael Paul Brown, the suspect in a quadruple homicide at a bar in Anaconda, Montana. Brown was later arrested in Montana on August 8.
North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers located Rinehart near Highway 1806, south of Mandan, close to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. While he was quickly cleared of involvement in the Montana shooting, a records check revealed outstanding warrants for unrelated charges in Morton County.
During a search following his arrest, officers reportedly discovered four plastic bags containing methamphetamine and a digital scale.
Charges and Penalties
Rinehart is now facing two felonies in the drug case:
Possession with intent to manufacture or deliver meth (up to 10 years in prison)
Possession of drug paraphernalia (up to 5 years in prison)
In a separate, previously issued warrant, he is charged with:
Unauthorized use of personal identifying information (felony, up to 5 years)
Theft under $500 (misdemeanor, up to 30 days in jail)
Authorities confirmed Rinehart has a history of prior offenses, including:
Two active criminal cases in Morton County
One active case in Burleigh County
Charges involving possession of drug paraphernalia and a fourth or greater offense of driving on a suspended license
Current Status and Trial Date
Rinehart is being held on:
$6,000 bond for the meth-related charges
$1,000 bond for the identity theft case
Both cases have now been merged, according to court records. A trial is scheduled for November 26, 2025.
