Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—Ryan Adam Benoit, 36, was sentenced for felony offenses, including failure to register as a predatory offender and fifth-degree controlled substance crime.
For the registration charge, Benoit received a 24-month prison sentence. He was ordered to register as a predatory offender and provide a DNA sample. Additionally, he was fined $210.
This charge originated from an April 2 report by Benoit’s probation officer. According to the complaint, Benoit was using an unregistered cell phone. When arrested on a probation warrant, the phone was confiscated. Benoit had registered four cell phone numbers, but none were linked to the confiscated phone. Records showed a jail inmate called the phone on Dec. 28, 2023, and Benoit answered.
At the time the complaint was filed, a warrant was issued as Benoit was already in custody for a parole violation.
Benoit was also sentenced for a separate felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime. Charges for third-degree controlled substance possession in a park zone and a gross misdemeanor violation of a restricted driver’s license were dismissed.
For the fifth-degree charge, Benoit received a 17-month prison sentence to run concurrently with another case. He was permanently prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives unless his rights were restored. He was also fined $210.
This charge resulted from a March 29 traffic stop near First Street and Tindolph Avenue. A police officer stopped Benoit, who had an active warrant. The stop occurred within 300 feet of Ole Engelstad Park.
During the stop, officers found two zip-top bags of cannabis in Benoit’s pockets, which did not comply with cannabis packaging regulations. A bong was visible in the vehicle, leading to a search. Law enforcement discovered a lockbox containing a digital scale with a crystalline substance testing positive for methamphetamine, along with plastic baggies typically used for packaging and distributing controlled substances.
Benoit performed poorly on field sobriety tests, and a preliminary breath test recorded a 0.022 Blood Alcohol Content. His driver’s license was restricted, prohibiting him from driving with any alcohol or controlled substances in his system.
Benoit was previously convicted of a fifth-degree controlled substance crime in February 2022.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me