Detroit Lakes man faces charges after strange behavior
Steven Eric Johnson, 62, of rural Detroit Lakes has been charged in Becker County District Court with felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime, and misdemeanor trespassing.
According to court records, on Dec. 24, two Becker County sheriff’s officers were called to a Becker County residence on a report of a man entering a house uninvited and acting strangely.
The intruder was identified as Johnson. The owner of the residence had asked him to leave, but he refused because he was hallucinating and believed people were outside. When deputies arrived, Johnson refused to listen to commands or leave the house. He was arrested for trespassing and taken to jail, where a search turned up about 7 grams of meth.
On Dec. 27, he was released without bail, under standard conditions of release. His next court appearance was set for Feb. 14.
Jury finds Detroit Lakes man innocent on assault charge
A Detroit Lakes man has been found innocent by a jury in Becker County District court of a felony charge of third-degree assault.
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According to court records, Dwain Allan DeWitt, 54, of Detroit Lakes was found not guilty by a jury on Dec. 22.
He was accused in the domestic assault of a woman on Sept. 25, 2020, in Detroit Lakes.
- See other Becker County District Court and local Federal Court stories
White Earth man sentenced for heroin in lip balm container
Michael James Azure, 42, of White Earth has been sentenced in Becker County District Court for felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime, and gross misdemeanor driving after his license was canceled.
According to court records, on Sept. 1, 2020, a White Earth tribal police officer learned Azure was at the M&W Store in White Earth, driving a motorcycle. Azure’s license was canceled as inimical to public safety.
As Azure left the gas station, the officer pulled him over and arrested him. About a fifth of a gram of heroin was found in his lip balm container.
On Dec. 29, District Judge Jay Carlson issued a stay of adjudication on the drug charge and continued the case.
Azure was ordered to serve 21 days in jail, with credit for six days served, and was authorized to serve the remaining 15 days on electronic home monitoring at his own expense.
He must get a chemical dependency evaluation and follow the recommendations, including aftercare. He was placed on supervised probation for five years.
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On the gross misdemeanor charge, he was fined $500 plus $650 in court fees, and was sentenced to 365 days in jail, with 359 of those days stayed two years, and credit for six days served.
Three gross misdemeanors and a misdemeanor were dropped in a plea agreement.
DWI charge filed after officer finds car stuck in roadway
Haley Ann Boe, 21, of Mahnomen has been charged in Becker County District Court with felony DWI and gross misdemeanor driving after her license was canceled as inimical to public safety.
According to court records, on Dec. 27, a tribal police officer saw her driving a 2006 Hyundai Tiburon that was stuck in the middle of the road in rural Becker County.
A male passenger (who was charged with gross misdemeanor DWI) told the officer that he had been driving, and had driven from his mother’s house, but after the vehicle became stuck, Boe got behind the wheel because she "was the more experienced driver."
Boe declined to undergo field sobriety tests, and was arrested and taken to jail, where she was eventually deemed to have refused a breath test.
On Dec. 29, she posted $1,000 cash bail and was released, under conditions that include alcohol monitoring at county expense, subject to reimbursement.
