Crime · Spearfish, SD
Spearfish Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Charges
Cole Nygaard, 45, of Spearfish, was sentenced Monday to five years and 11 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing unregistered firearms. The case originated from a January 2024 traffic stop in Lawrence County where officers found three firearms with unregistered silencers. In January 2026, authorities searched Nygaard’s residence and discovered nine improvised explosive devices, along with numerous firearms and ammunition. One device detonated during the search but caused no injuries.