EAST GRAND FORKS, MN – Stephen Todd Pederson, 59, has been sentenced to 39 months in prison after pleading guilty to felony meth possession in a prohibited zone. His sentencing took place on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
Pederson initially faced a second-degree meth sale charge but accepted a plea agreement that reduced the charge to possession.
Probation Violation Led to Arrest
Court records show that Pederson was under pretrial release for existing criminal cases when he failed to appear for a required urine test in June 2024.
When authorities located him, Pederson admitted to drug use, and a test confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in his system.
This led to a search of his residence, where law enforcement found:
- 11.4 grams of methamphetamine
- A digital scale
- Cash
- Baggies (some containing meth, others unused)
Prison Sentence and Time Served
Pederson received credit for 259 days already served in custody. He will complete his sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News