DIstrict Court
– Shanell Michelle Azure, Belcourt, pleaded guilty in Northeast Judicial District Court to a C felony charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, heroin from a Sept. 9 arrest on March 28. Azure appeared before Judge Michael Hurly at the Pierce County Courthouse. Hurly sentenced Azure to five years with the North Dakota Department of Corrections, first serving two years, then serving a sentence of three years probation, with 28 days of credit for time served. Azure also pleaded guilty to a B misdemeanor charge of driving under suspension. Hurly sentenced Azure to 30 days at Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center, with credit for 28 days served. Hurly also ordered Azure to complete a chemical dependency evaluation and any recommended treatment, and file proof of completion with the court.
– Georgianna Laber, Rugby, pleaded guilty to a Feb. 20 C felony charge of burglary in district court on April 4. Hurly ordered Laber to complete a chemical dependency evaluation and any recommended treatment and file proof with the court, have no contact with the victim and not to be within one mile of the victim’s residence. Hurly also ordered Laber to obtain a psychological evaluation and follow through with any recommended treatment. Hurly also sentenced Laber to 30 months of probation in addition to one year and one day with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Laber also pleaded guilty to an A misdemeanor charge of theft of property stemming from a March 15 arrest. Hurly sentenced Laber to a 19-day term at HACTC with credit for 19 days served. Hurly also ordered Laber to pay $25 in court fees.
– Amber Lynn Lien, Fessenden, pleaded guilty on April 4 to an A misdemeanor charge of possession of a C schedule hallucinogenic stemming from a Nov. 24 arrest at Larry’s Bar, Selz. Hurly sentenced Lien to a 360-day term at HACTC, with 356 days suspended, credit for 4 days served and two years of probation. Lien also pleaded guilty to an A misdemeanor charge of possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia and an infraction charge of possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana.
– Michael Azure, Rugby, pleaded guilty to an A misdemeanor charge of false reports to law enforcement or other security officers. Hurly sentenced Azure to a 180-day term at HACTC, first serving 30 days, credit for two days served and 360 days of probation. Hurly also ordered Azure to pay $300 in court fees.
– Morgan Arianna Hjelden, Rugby, pleaded guilty on April 4 to a B misdemeanor charge of reckless driving from a Jan. 6 arrest. Hurly ordered Hjelden to complete a chemical dependency evaluation and any recommended treatment and file proof of completion to the court. Hurly also ordered Hjelden to submit to random testing by law enforcement through March 27, 2023. Hurly also ordered Hjelden to complete 40 hours of community service and pay all supervision fees and not consume any alcoholic beverages until the completion of chemical dependency treatment. Hjelden was also ordered to pay $775 in court fees within 30 days of sentencing.
– Savannah Dawn Knutson, Rugby, pleaded guilty to a B misdemeanor charge of actual physical control of a motor vehicle from a Jan. 23 arrest. On April 4, Hurly sentenced Knutson to a 30-day term at HACTC, first serving 10 days by means of electronic monitoring with work release at her expense. Hurly also sentenced Knutson to 360 days of probation and ordered her to complete a chemical dependency evaluation and any recommended treatment and file proof with the court. Hurly also ordered Knutson to participate in 24/7 Sobriety Program for 360 days and receive credit for any participation in the program since Jan. 31. Hurly ordered Knutson to pay $1,750 in total court fees, with payments to be made in $150 per month installments until paid in full.
-Gerald Belgarde, Dunseith, pleaded guilty to a B misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of liquor or drugs in Northeast Judicial Court at the Pierce County Courthouse on April 19. The charge stems from an April 5 arrest by the Pierce County Sheriff Department. Judge Michael Hurly ordered Belgarde to submit to a chemical dependency evaluation, complete any recommended treatment and furnish proof of completion to the court by June 17. Hurly also sentenced Belgarde to two months of unsupervised probation and pay $25 per month in court fees for a period of time not specified in court documents. Belgarde also pleaded guilty to a B misdemeanor charge of driving under suspension. Hurly ordered Belgarde to pay $25 in court fees per month for a period of time that was also unspecified in court documents.
– Kristopher L. Davis, Minot, pleaded guilty to a B misdemeanor charge of driving under suspension. Hurly sentenced Davis to one year of unsupervised probation and 30 days at Heart of America Correction and Treatment Center, with 23 days suspended and credit for seven days served. Davis also pleaded guilty to an A misdemeanor charge of failure to appear as a witness or to produce information. Hurly sentenced Davis to one year of unsupervised probation for the charge and credit for seven days served at HACTC. The sentence was to be served concurrent with that of the driving under suspension charge.
– Nikolaus Wesley Patrick Lenz, Rugby, pleaded guilty to an A misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment stemming from a Feb. 15 arrest after his vehicle crashed into a North Rugby business. Hurly ordered Lenz to complete a chemical dependency evaluation and any recommended treatment, then file proof of completion with the court by June 17. Additionally, Hurly ordered Lenz to pay $1,000 in fees for the charge and complete a community service term over a period of six months. Hurly also sentenced Lenz to a 360-day term at HACTC, with 360 days suspended and two years of probation, to be served concurrent with a sentence Hurly handed down for a B misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. In addition to the chemical dependency evaluation, treatment and probation for Lenz’s first charge, Lenz received a 30-day sentence to be served at HACTC, with 30 days suspended. Hurly also ordered Lenz to pay $750 in court fees for the charge.