Grand Forks County: Woman Pleads Not Guilty In Fentanyl Case
GRAND FORKS COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — A Grand Forks woman has pleaded not guilty to a Class A felony charge of delivering a controlled substance inside a correctional facility.
According to court records, 31-year-old Megan Kelly Thorsen waived her preliminary hearing on Monday, October 6, and entered a not guilty plea to the felony charge. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
Thorsen was charged in August after correctional officers at the Grand Forks County Correctional Center noticed that she appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Officers said she was “nodding off” and acting impaired, according to a probable cause summary filed in court.
Two other inmates also appeared to be under the influence and later admitted to using fentanyl. A correctional officer reported finding a Ziploc sandwich baggie inside Thorsen’s bra that weighed 19.9 grams and tested positive for fentanyl.
Thorsen’s next court appearance in the Grand Forks case is scheduled for December 31 at 1:30 p.m. She remains in custody while awaiting trial.
In a separate case in Polk County, Minnesota, Thorsen faces a third-degree murder charge for allegedly selling drugs linked to a fatal overdose in East Grand Forks. Court filings state that 44-year-old Rachel Keturah Boswell allegedly obtained drugs from Thorsen and provided them to a 20-year-old woman who later died from an overdose.
The Polk County charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. A warrant has been issued for Thorsen’s transfer to Polk County once her Grand Forks case concludes.
For updates on both cases, visit the Grand Forks County Correctional Center or follow TRF News for continuing coverage.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Megan Kelly Thorsen