According to court records, Megan Kelly Thorsen, 31, has been charged with Class A felony delivery of a controlled substance in a correctional facility. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.
The case began on Tuesday, August 26, when correctional officers at the Grand Forks County Correctional Center noticed Thorsen sitting near a phone and nodding off. Officers suspected she was under the influence of a controlled substance. Two other female inmates in the same pod also appeared to be impaired and later admitted to using fentanyl, according to a probable cause summary.
A search of the jail pod was ordered. During the shakedown, officers reported finding a Ziploc sandwich bag inside Thorsen’s bra. The bag contained a white and gray powder, weighing 19.9 grams, along with its packaging. A presumptive test returned positive for fentanyl, the report said.
Thorsen made her initial court appearance on Thursday, August 28. Her next court hearing, a preliminary hearing and/or arraignment, is scheduled for 9 a.m. on October 6 in Grand Forks County District Court.
Authorities emphasize the serious risks of fentanyl, even in small amounts, within confined facilities. Learn more about fentanyl dangers here.
This case remains under investigation, and additional details may be released as court proceedings continue.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Megan Kelly Thorsen