Eddy County Sheriff's Report for February

The man who attempted to rob the Rockford Cafe, stayed at the Rock Inn without paying and stole prescription drugs from a vehicle in New Rockford on a Saturday morning in January was sentenced in court on Feb. 11. Brandon Lund of St. Michael reached a plea agreement with authorities, and as a result his felony theft charges were reduced to misdemeanors, and he avoided any additional jail time. He pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor charges, including four theft charges, unlawful entry of a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Hovey sentenced him to 180 days in jail, with 157 days suspended. He was given credit for time served, and as a result did no additional jail time. He was assessed $1,182 in fines and fees and is subject to 2 years of supervised probation.

An order to revoke probation was filed against Kevin J. Bender of Fessenden. Bender was convicted of felony possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as infractions for possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia. At his revocation hearing, the court found allegations of one or more of the conditions of probation, and ordered his previous sentence revoked. He was subsequently sentenced to 2 years at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He is expected to serve his sentence at the Tompkins Rehabilitation Center in Jamestown. Bender also has open charges in Wells County, including felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dylan M. Ironheart of Ft. Totten faces a driving under suspension charge. The incident occurred on January 9 along U.S. Hwy. 281. Authorities believe his license was suspended due to a DUI conviction in Eddy County last December. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, and he is due for a pre-trial conference on April 15. He was also assessed a $200 fine for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, both infractions, and was cited for failure to display current registration and driving without insurance.

Talissa Ami of Ft. Totten is also accused of driving under suspension. She was stopped along Hwy. 281 on January 9, and pleaded not guilty on Feb. 11.

Aaron L. Morse of New Rockford is accused of Class C Felony terrorizing. He allegedly set up a fake Facebook profile and attempted to purchase clothing from a female victim known only in court documents as “Jane Doe” in late January. After she said she did not feel comfortable meeting him in Devils Lake to deliver the clothing as he requested, he threatened sexual assault more than once. He also sent her videos of himself and claimed to know where she lived due to her IP address. Morse’s preliminary hearing is set for March 11.

Roger Skadsem of Lisbon, N.D. was arrested for driving under the influence and driving under suspension. The incident occurred on January 24 near 88th Avenue and 24th Street in rural Eddy County. He pleaded not guilty to the charge on Feb. 11, and his preliminary hearing is set for March 11.

In court on Feb. 11, Jeffrey Schempp of St. Michael was sentenced in a 2020 case. Schempp had been charged with fleeing a police officer, reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia after he fled in his car at speeds over 100 mph on Eddy County 1 headed west towards Sheyenne, then abandoned his car and ran into the bushes on July 1. Authorities added felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (schedule II) and a second possession of drug paraphernalia charge after a second run-in with Schempp in September. He reached a plea agreement with authorities for all the above charges, effectively shielding him from jail time. In exchange for his guilty plea, his 2-year prison sentence was suspended, and he will instead be subject to 3 years of supervised probation and pay $525 in fines and fees.

Jennifer C. Robertson of St. Michael was convicted of driving under suspension on Feb. 11. She was arrested along Hwy. 281 in October 2020. Robertson was assessed $350 in fines and fees as is subject to 360 days of unsupervised probation.

Gerald P. Lawrence of Leeds faces his second DUI conviction. Lawrence was stopped near Eddy County 1 on Nov. 17, 2020. Authorities say he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.109%. He has a prior DUI conviction in Eddy County from 2016. He pleaded not guilty to the charge at his pre-trial conference on Feb. 11. No trial date had been set as of press time.

Antone R. Eback, Jr. reached a plea agreement with authorities in a May 2020 DUI/DUS case. He was charged with driving under the influence, driving under suspension and refusal to halt after a May 16 traffic stop. Eback had an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and refused to take a breathalyzer test at the scene. Judge Hovey handed down a 10-day suspended jail sentence, $1,750 in fines and fees and 360 days of unsupervised probation. This was his second DUI and third DUS offense in the last seven years.

Outstanding warrants:

• Jacob Lenoir of Ft. Totten, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, $150 cash bond

• Dakota J. Dubois of Ft. Totten, failure to appear on an order to show cause, 2018 DUI/DUS case, $200 cash bond

• Sylvester P. Littlewind, order to show cause in 2018 DUI case, $200 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.