Thomas James Mashburn, of Ward, AR, was arrested and charged with Attempted Murder on September 5th 2011 after he allegedly stabbed Jay Rasberry in the throat area outside the Dakota Lounge after an altercation. It is believed that Mr. Mashburn was charged with the most severe charge due to the fact he is nonresident of North Dakota. Local Newspapers have published articles on similar crimes where the perpetrator, being a resident of North Dakota, is arrested on the lesser charge of Aggravated Assault. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. This petition isn’t about guilt; it’s about discrimination against non residents of North Dakota. The number of nonresident individuals working in North Dakota is growing every day, along with the hostility of locals toward oilfield hands. We need to set an example and show officials they can’t discriminate against the men and women that work in North Dakota but live outside the state. Timothy Love Sr, a Minot Resident, was arrested for Aggravated Assault after cutting the throat of another Minot Man on January 31st. A 37 year old Minot man was arrested for Aggravated Assault after they say he attacked and stabbed his victim with a knife on August 22nd.  Rashied Williams of Minot was arrested for Aggravated Assault after using a knife during a fight that resulted in injuries to the top of his victim’s head on April 1st.  Detrick Leondra Perry of Minot was charged with Aggravated Assault after a dispute over money became physical, after grabbing a kitchen knife he stabbed his victim in the abdomen on August 31st, just days before the incident involving Mashburn and Rasberry.

The circumstances of this case have not been fully brought to light. According to the Minot Daily News Mashburn's attorney, Robert Martin, expressed some concern over the fact that the weapon allegedly used in the assault was not found on Mashburn's person but that Mashburn’s pocket knife was found in his pocket, and that the only witnesses identifying him as the assailant seemed to be friends of the victim. Martin also pointed out that Mashburn was knocked down and kicked until he was unconscious, and read his Miranda warnings while possibly suffering from the effects of a concussion. Statements made to police by Mashburn on scene were done so while he was attempting to regain consciousness and while intoxicated.

Thomas Mashburn has no prior criminal record and is not a violent man. He is a husband and the father of 4 young girls. He was scheduled to come home to Arkansas on September 6th. He was taking a week of vacation on top of his regular 2 weeks home so that he would be home for his youngest daughter’s first birthday. He had hopes that during his 3 weeks home he would be able to witness her first steps. This is a hard working man just trying to support his family the best he could.