PENNINGTON COUNTY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – Michelle Jean Laird, 52, from Fosston, Minnesota, made her first court appearance on Monday, June 3, in Pennington County, facing a first-degree controlled substance charge. Already convicted of a third-degree controlled substance crime last year, Laird now risks up to 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of four years for this new charge.
On November 7, 2023, a confidential informant reported that Laird reached out to purchase methamphetamine. According to the probable cause statement, Laird met the informant at 10:30 p.m. outside the Goodridge bar at 305 Vaughan Main St. E. in Goodridge, Minnesota, selling 14.213 grams of methamphetamine for $400.
A second controlled buy occurred on November 26 in the Falls Cinema parking lot at 15469 U.S. Highway 59 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where Laird sold 3.08 grams of methamphetamine for $150.
Currently, Laird is serving time in Polk County for controlled substance possession and DUI. A warrant is attached to the Pennington County case, although she is not at large.
Her next court appearance is set for 1 p.m. on June 24.