The charges have been changed from criminal trespass to riot, they seemingly did not have sufficient evidence to prove trespassing, this is also a misdemeanor with jail time.

>When asked to explain the grounds for arresting a working journalist, Erickson told the Grand Forks Herald that he did not, in fact, consider Goodman a journalist. “She’s a protester, basically,” Erickson told the newspaper. “Everything she reported on was from the position of justifying the protest actions.” And in The Bismarck Tribune he later added, “I think she put together a piece to influence the world on her agenda, basically. That’s fine, but it doesn’t immunize her from the laws of her state.”

This is the important point of the article, the prosecutor says they do not consider Goodman a journalist because the 20 year journalism veteran doesn't adequately represent the point of view of their client.