Man Sentenced for Threatening Violence at University of Minnesota Campus

WATSON, Minn. — Joseph Rongstad, a 42-year-old resident of Watson, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for making violent threats against students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The sentencing took place on Thursday at the Chippewa County Courthouse, where Rongstad was credited for 224 days already served. He pleaded guilty in June to two counts of threats of violence, while additional charges, including one for ineligible possession of ammunition, were dismissed. The threats were made through Rongstad's business Facebook page on January 10 and 11, with one alarming post stating, "Kids will die for real amongst them u of m students." In response to the threats, the university advised students and others to avoid the campus until the situation was resolved. A SWAT team was deployed to Rongstad's home on January 11, leading to a lengthy standoff before he was taken into custody. During the search of his residence, authorities discovered a significant stockpile of ammunition, although no weapons were found. Rongstad claimed that he did not intend to carry out any violence but made the threats to draw attention from law enforcement. Following his arrest, a mental competency evaluation was ordered, and in April, a judge determined that he was mentally competent to stand trial.