Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji woman is facing four gross misdemeanor child endangerment charges in Beltrami County District Court.
According to a criminal complaint, Fiona Louise Fairbanks is accused of endangering four young children between July 9, 2025, and January 9, 2026.
The complaint lists the court file number as 04-CR-26-841. The charges were filed under Minnesota Statute 609.378.
Hospital Visit Led To Investigation
The case began on January 9, 2026, at about 2:00 a.m. Authorities responded to the Sanford Hospital emergency department in Bemidji.
The complaint says a very young child was brought to the hospital with lethargic behavior. Medical testing later showed the child was positive for marijuana.
Fairbanks told investigators she was in a relationship with Phillip Duwayne Jones. She also said they shared children together.
According to the complaint, Fairbanks said the child became pale and lethargic earlier that night. That prompted the hospital visit.
Complaint Details Injuries
Medical staff reported bruising, scratches, and bite marks on the child’s body. The complaint says marijuana may have been ingested through flower or gummy products.
Fairbanks allegedly told investigators the children often played roughly. She also said she sometimes lost patience with the children.
Authorities later went to the family home in Beltrami County. The complaint says Jones showed them marijuana stored in a kitchen drawer.
Jones denied having marijuana gummies. Fairbanks allegedly told investigators that Jones used gummy marijuana products. She also said she had found gummies left out before.
The complaint says all four children were later evaluated at the Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota.
Those exams found multiple injuries on the children. The complaint says one child had around 20 injuries. Another had around 15 injuries. A third had around 10 injuries.
Four Gross Misdemeanor Counts Filed
Fairbanks is charged with four counts of child endangerment. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.
Court records can be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.
The charges are allegations. Fairbanks is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
