Naytahwaush woman sentenced for car theft

A Naytahwaush teenager who was accused of stealing her grandmother's car and using it to attend the 2012 White Earth Powwow was sentenced Wednesday in Becker County District Court on a felony charge of motor vehicle theft.

Ashley Faye LaFriniere, 19, whose address is listed as P.O. Box 195, Naytahwaush, was granted a stay of adjudication on conditions including completion of up to five years of supervised probation and a 30-day jail sentence (with credit for 29 days served since her arrest). She must also complete community service in lieu of a $1,000 fine and pay $160 in court fees.

If she successfully completes all the terms of her probation, the charge will be dismissed.

LaFriniere allegedly went to her grandmother's home and asked to be taken to the powwow. According to the complaint, her grandmother told her it was too early and nothing would be open at that time.

LaFriniere's grandmother then went back to sleep, and upon awakening a few hours later, found her vehicle missing and LaFriniere nowhere to be found. The woman's son subsequently reported the car as stolen, and it was found on the powwow grounds a short time later.

According to the complaint, LaFriniere reportedly had the keys to the vehicle in her possession at the time she was apprehended. The complaint further stated that she had allegedly taken the vehicle without permission before, but her grandmother had chosen not to report it. The vehicle had an estimated value of $1,300, according to the complaint.