Felony Drug Charge Dismissed In Detroit Lakes Plea Deal
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — A felony drug possession charge against Matthew Wayne Covey, 38, of Detroit Lakes has been dismissed as part of a plea agreement in Becker County District Court.
According to court documents, the charge stemmed from a June 5 traffic stop on Old Pit Road near Detroit Lakes. Becker County deputies pulled over a vehicle after it failed to completely stop at a stop sign. Covey, a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
During a search, deputies found a small tinfoil bindle in Covey’s pocket containing residue that later tested positive for heroin. Covey admitted to officers that he had used controlled substances earlier in the day and acknowledged struggling with drug addiction.
As part of a plea deal, Judge Michelle Lawson dismissed the felony fifth-degree drug possession charge on October 7. The agreement resolved two other pending cases — a misdemeanor theft by swindle from November 2024 involving a fake $100 bill at Casey’s in Detroit Lakes, and a misdemeanor DWI from August 16 on Highway 34.
Covey is scheduled to be sentenced on those misdemeanor convictions. The plea deal effectively closes the felony case, which could have carried significant prison time under Minnesota law.
This case highlights how plea negotiations often consolidate multiple charges for sentencing, especially when defendants show cooperation or address substance abuse issues through treatment programs.
For more information about Minnesota’s drug laws and court procedures, visit the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
