Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) – A Thief River Falls man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison following a felony conviction for a fifth-degree controlled substance crime – with a previous conviction.
Nicholas Arley Hagman, 30, was sentenced on Monday, March 31, for the felony drug charge in Pennington County District Court. A separate misdemeanor charge for driving after revocation was dismissed as part of the proceedings.
As part of his sentence, Hagman is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition and was ordered to pay $210 in court fees and fines.
The conviction stems from a December 6 traffic stop in the 2000 block of Greenwood Street East. According to the criminal complaint, an officer who had previously warned Hagman for driving without a license observed him again and initiated a stop.
The officer noted signs of impairment, leading to a search of the vehicle. Despite Hagman’s claim that he had been clean, the officer found:
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A digital scale with residue that tested positive for methamphetamine
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A micro baggie containing two Alprazolam pills
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A glass pipe beneath the driver’s seat
The felony charge was specifically tied to the unauthorized possession of the Alprazolam pills, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News
🔍 Did you know?
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Alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) is a controlled substance used to treat anxiety but is illegal without a prescription.
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In Minnesota, fifth-degree drug crimes are often felonies if the person has a prior conviction.
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Methamphetamine possession or paraphernalia (like scales and pipes) is often used as supporting evidence for controlled substance charges.
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A conviction can lead to firearm possession restrictions and long-term legal consequences.
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Thief River Falls has seen a rise in controlled substance-related arrests over the past five years.