Eddy County Sheriff's Update for September and October

All court hearings are again being held telephonically or via Zoom due to the uptick in COVID-19 cases in the state. On Monday, Judge Peter Welte signed an order to suspend all federal jury trials scheduled to start between Oct. 27 and Nov. 30.

Brian W. Hull of Sykeston has been charged with Class C Felony possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamines). He pleaded not guilty to the charge on Oct. 8, and his pretrial conference is set for Nov. 12. He also has an active warrant in Wells County for an open misdemeanor charge of ingesting a controlled substance. Hull was previously convicted of numerous drug-related crimes in Wells County last year. In January, he was ordered to serve a one-year sentence at the Tompkins Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Bismarck. He had been released early and was on probation.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Virgil D. Feather, Jr. of Minot. He faces both a DUI and a possession of drug paraphernalia charge in Eddy County, and he failed to make his initial appearance in court on Oct. 8. According to the criminal complaint, he was arrested on Highway 20, where a breathalyzer test revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.153%. A subsequent search of his vehicle yielded a snort tube, light bulb smoking device and a rolled-up dollar bill, all containing white powder residue consistent with methamphetamine.

Anthony T. Ironhawk of Ft. Totten faces his third driving under suspension charge. He was initially stopped for speeding on 77th Ave NE on Sept. 26. He has prior DUS convictions in Devils Lake and Ramsey County. Authorities believe his license was first suspended due to a May 2018 DUI conviction in Devils Lake. He failed to appear in court on Oct. 8, so a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Rayeisha L. King has been charged with driving under suspension. She was stopped on Sept. 28 for speeding at 30 mph over the posted limit when the deputy discovered that her license was suspended. She failed to appear in court on Oct. 8, so a warrant has been issued for her arrest.

Several other warrants were issued Oct. 8 for defendants who failed to appear in court:

• Tyrein M. Dubois, possession of drug paraphernalia- methamphetamine ($500 cash bond)

• Zachary E. Littlewind of Ft. Totten, possession of marijuana infraction ($100 cash bond)

• Christopher D. Lange of Carrington, possession of drug paraphernalia ($1,000 cash bond)

• Larse W. Azure of St. Michael, possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine), driving under suspension and unlawful use of license plate ($500 cash bond)

• Robert L. Redroad of Ft. Totten, fourth driving under suspension charge in five years ($300 cash bond)

• Neva E. Thumb of Ft. Totten, driving under suspension ($300 cash bond)

• Bobby J. Deane of Fargo, driving under suspension ($500 cash bond)

• Tyler T. Jetty of St. Michael, driving under suspension ($300 cash bond)

• Jeffrey L Schempp of St. Michael, fleeing a police officer, reckless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia ($1,000 cash bond)

• Sasha Silvis of Fargo, Order to Show Cause, convicted of driving under suspension in 2019 ($200 cash)

• Scott A. Lloyd of Devils Lake, Order to Show Cause, convicted of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in 2018 ($470 cash bond). Lloyd has been found in contempt of court three times for this case alone.

• Marlin S. Little of Devils Lake, Order to Show Cause, convicted of driving under suspension in 2018 ($150 cash bond)

• Ted I. Snell of Ft. Totten, Order to Show Cause, convicted of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia in 2017 ($400 cash bond).

• Daniel Swartout of Bowdon, due in court for fourth driving under suspension offense in five years ($250 cash bond)

• Heather M. Jackson of St. Michael, civil judgment hearing for 2016 conviction of driving under the influence, driving under suspension and reckless driving ($200 cash bond)

Warrants have also been issued for the following individuals who failed to appear in court on Sept. 23:

• Joseph C. Blackboy, Jr. of St. Michael, possession of marijuana ($150 cash bond)

• Marcus A. Curley of St. Michael, driving under suspension ($300 cash bond)

• Kristina Ranisate of Grand Forks, who was sentenced for driving under suspension and possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia in June, failed to appear on Order to Show Cause ($500 cash bond).

• Melissa A. Denne of St. Michael, who has a 2018 conviction for driving under suspension and possession of drug paraphernalia ($160 cash bond)

• Jason Larock of St. Michael, who was sentenced for driving under suspension in May ($550 cash bond).

• Alicia Tollefson of Garrison, who was sentenced for contributing to the deprivation of a minor and unlawful possession/use of drug paraphernalia ($220 cash bond).

Anyone with information about any of the above individuals should contact the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office at (701) 947-5515 or text an anonymous tip to (701) 341-0534.

Shanda R. Littlewind of Ft. Totten faces a driving under the influence charge. She was stopped on Aug. 14 nearly 77th Avenue NE and 29th Street NE, and a breathalyzer test indicated she had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12%. She also failed to appear in court on Sept. 23, so a warrant has been issued for her arrest. A $500 cash bond applies in her case.

Vernon G. Lambert of Ft. Totten pleaded guilty to driving under suspension in court on Sept. 23. He was stopped near 29th Street NE and 72nd Avenue NE on Aug. 22. Judge Hovey sentenced him to 2 days in jail, suspended for 360 days of unsupervised probation. Lambert was also ordered to pay $350 in fines and fees.

Christopher Grafsgaard of Devils Lake reached a plea agreement with authorities for reckless driving, fleeing, driving under suspension and possession of drug paraphernalia. On Aug. 29, Grafsgaard was initially pulled over for a registration violation when he led a deputy on a chase at speeds up to 109 mph. The deputy pursued Grafsgaard down gravel roads, across a section line and through a field before he finally brought his vehicle to a stop on Hwy. 57. The possession charge was filed during a subsequent search of his vehicle.

He appeared in court on Oct. 7. In exchange for his guilty plea on all charges, Grafsgaard’s felony fleeing charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 100 days in jail, with 70 days suspended and credit for 30 days served. He is currently on unsupervised probation for one year and participating in the 24/7 sobriety program for 90 days. He was also assessed $1,110 in fines and fees and ordered to complete a chemical dependency evaluation.

Nathan W. Kalisch of Harvey was stopped in New Rockford on Aug. 30 and charged with misdemeanor driving under suspension. He is due in court for a pre-trial conference on Nov. 12.

A judgement has been filed against William D. Abrahamson of Devils Lake. He was stopped on U.S. Hwy. 281 in 2018 and later pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was assessed $610 in fines and fees by the court, and the judgement totals $440, the unpaid amount.

Jerri J. Jensen of Oberon faces a Class C Felony charge of driving under the influence. This is his fourth such offense in the past 15 years, authorities say. He was previously convicted of DUI in Eddy County in 2018, Ramsey County in 2009 and West Fargo in 2008. According to the criminal complaint, Jensen was arrested on U.S. Hwy. 281 on Aug. 23. A subsequent breathalyzer test indicated that Jensen’s blood alcohol content was 0.160%, twice the legal limit. He was also cited for disregarding a stop sign and open container. His preliminary hearing/arraignment is set for Dec. 10.

Holly Larvie of Cando was sentenced for giving false information to law enforcement. According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 22 she gave a fake name to officers at the scene of a traffic stop. They discovered that the individual for whom she gave the fake name had a warrant out for her arrest. The deputy transported Larvie to the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, where she spent the night. She later admitted that her name was not JoAnn Leading Cloud, but rather Holly Larvie, for which there were also active arrest warrants. She spent 9 days in jail due to the active warrants. Larvie pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 8. She was sentenced to 360 days of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay $560 in fines and fees.

Chance J. Champagne of Oberon is also charged with driving under suspension. He pleaded not guilty in court on Oct. 8, and his pretrial conference is set for Dec. 23.

A DUI charge has been filed against Kara B. Shaw of Ft. Totten. She was stopped on Sept. 23 for speeding. Citations for open container and failure to display a license plate were also issued by the arresting officer. Shaw is due to make her initial appearance in court on Nov. 12.

Edward J. Lavallie of Ft. Totten pleaded not guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia in court on Oct. 8. He was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by authorities on Sept. 22, and according to the criminal complaint the paraphernalia was found under his seat in a box of cigarettes of the same brand that Lavallie admitted to smoking. As a condition of his bail, he entered the 24/7 sobriety program. His pretrial conference is set for Dec. 10.

Joshua E. Anderson of New Rockford pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia (both infractions) in court on Oct. 8. A misdemeanor charge of driving under suspension was dismissed in the case. He was ordered to pay $350 in fines for the two infractions.

Jacob. R. Cox of New Rockford pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, an infraction. He was assessed a $200 fine.

Bryer R. Shaw of Ft. Totten faces a Class C Felony driving under the influence and misdemeanor driving under suspension charge. He was arrested on Eddy County 1 on Aug. 22 after a breathalyzer test revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.156%, nearly twice the legal limit. He was also cited for open container, tinted windows, driving without liability insurance and a registration violation.

Shaw pleaded not guilty to both charges, and his pretrial conference is set for Nov. 12. This habitual offender has numerous alcohol and traffic-related crimes on his record dating back to 2009. He has three prior DUI convictions in Ramsey County (2013, 2015 and 2018). He also has four DUS convictions, three in Ramsey County and one in Devils Lake Municipal Court.