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Jury trial scheduled for Atwater man in armed standoff

WILLMAR -- An Atwater man involved in an armed standoff in June faces a jury trial next month on six counts, including assault, terroristic threats and the use of deadly force against a peace officer.

James Hinman

WILLMAR -- An Atwater man involved in an armed standoff in June faces a jury trial next month on six counts, including assault, terroristic threats and the use of deadly force against a peace officer.

James Hinman, 46, had been scheduled to appear Thursday in Kandiyohi County District Court for an om-nibus hearing. After he failed to show up, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was taken into custody on Sunday.

During an appearance Monday before Judge Donald Spilseth, Hinman was ordered to be held on $70,000 bail. He later posted bond, allowing him to be released. Hinman also will be retaining a private attorney.

His trial is scheduled to start Sept. 28.

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On June 7, authorities were called to Hinman's home outside Atwater, where a witness reported seeing Hinman and a woman in the garage, wrestling over a shotgun. The shotgun reportedly discharged twice as the couple tussled.

The woman later told authorities Hinman was angry over being laid off from his job and having one of his family's vehicles repossessed. He allegedly hit her, tried to strangle her and stated that "someone is going to die tonight."

Law enforcement officials set up a perimeter around the house and attempted to persuade Hinman to come out.

At first he remained barricaded inside the house, and two Kandiyohi County sheriff's deputies reported seeing the barrel of a shotgun pointed at them from a window.

Eventually Hinman came out into the garage unarmed. Officers were able to surround him and take him into custody without further incident.

According to court documents, three loaded shotguns were recovered during a search of the house and property.

When he was arrested, Hinman also was wearing a bulletproof vest loaded with unspent shotgun shells.

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