Hollowed-out dictionary leads to drug sentencing
Hailee Aletta Johnson, 25, of rural Detroit Lakes, has been sentenced in Becker County District Court for felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime and misdemeanor domestic assault.
According to court records, the drug charge stemmed from a Feb. 6, 2021, incident, when Johnson was arrested for being at a Detroit Lakes residence in violation of a court order. Found among her possessions as she was being booked into jail was a dictionary, with the pages cut out and a small metal lock box installed inside. Inside was a glass pipe, a snorting straw, a scale, and a baggie of meth weighing 3.4 grams.
The assault charge stemmed from a June 8, 2020 incident at the same residence where Johnson had used a yard ornament to smash a window in a relative’s house.
The female relative had picked her up from another disturbance call the night before the call. Johnson was extremely agitated and the relative was afraid of her, and ended up locking her out. After she broke the window, the relative locked herself in the bathroom because she thought that Johnson would kill her if she got inside the home, according to the criminal complaint.
On March 4, Becker County District Judge Gretchen Thlimony stayed adjudication and continued the case. On the drug charge, Johnson was ordered to serve 29 days in jail, with credit for 29 days served. She was fined $500 plus $575 in court fees, and was ordered to get a chemical dependency assessment and follow the recommendations, including aftercare.
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On the domestic assault charge, she was ordered to serve 90 days in jail, with 58 days stayed two years, and credit for 32 days served. She must get domestic abuse counseling/treatment. She was fined $300 plus $450 in court fees.
A misdemeanor fourth-degree damage to property charge was dropped in a plea agreement.
Lake Park man sentenced for felony threats
Michael John Groeneweg, 43, of Lake Park, has been sentenced in Becker County District Court for felony threats and misdemeanor domestic assault.
According to court records, on Aug. 13, 2021, Detroit Lakes police were dispatched to America’s Best Value Inn on report that a woman had called her mother and said that she was going to be killed. The woman told police that she had been dating Groeneweg for about two months. Earlier that evening as she was driving Groeneweg to Detroit Lakes, he began yelling at her and calling her names because he suspected her of cheating.
The woman pulled over at America’s Best Value lnn and told him to get out of the vehicle, but he refused. Groeneweg grabbed the woman by the neck and pulled her over the center console. He threatened to kill her multiple times, and tried to grab the vehicle keys out of her hand, twisting her fingers around as she clutched the keys.
Groeneweg grabbed her by the hair, shook her, and told her that he hated her and was going to kill her. He removed a chunk of the victim’s hair from her scalp.
The woman called her mother for help, and the next day she reported that her finger was broken, she had bruises on her side, chest and arm, and her ribs were bruised badly. Police noted that she was clearly shaken up from the experience.
On March 7, Becker County District Judge Jay Carlson stayed imposition of sentence on the felony charge, with a number of conditions: Groeneweg must pay a $1,000 fine plus $1,150 in court fees, serve 15 days in jail, with credit for 15 days served, complete a domestic abuse program, complete the Teen Challenge chemical dependency program he is already in, and successfully complete supervised probation.
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On the misdemeanor charge, Groeneweg was ordered to serve 90 days in jail, with 78 days stayed one year and credit for 12 days served. He was fined $500 plus $650 in court fees.
A misdemeanor domestic assault charge was dropped in a plea agreement.
Fargo man charged after LSD falls out of hat
Jordan Lee Kytonen, 33, of Fargo, has been charged in Becker County District Court with felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime and gross misdemeanor bringing drugs into jail.
According to court records, on March 1, Kytonen reported to the Becker County Jail to turn himself in. While at the jail, a baggie fell out from under Kytonen's hat, and he said it was LSD. The baggie and contents were sent to the BCA for testing.
On March 3, Becker County District Court Judge Gretchen Thilmony released him without bail, under standard conditions of release.
Man sentenced for meth in DL motel room
Dakota Tyler Collins, 27, of Casselton, N.D., has been sentenced in Becker County District Court for felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime.
According to court records, on April 8, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a room at a hotel in Detroit Lakes. Upon entry, they found Collins sitting next to a window. Two meth pipes and a baggie of meth, weighing 0.62 ounces, were next to him. He later admitted to smoking methamphetamine in the room with others and that the meth found next to him was his.
On March 8, Becker County District Judge Jay Carlson stayed adjudication and continued the case. Collins was ordered to serve 23 days in jail, with credit for 23 days served. He was fined $500 plus $650 in court fees, and was ordered to get a chemical dependency assessment and follow the recommendations, including aftercare. He was placed on supervised probation for five years.
