Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — Court records from Pennington County show a mix of criminal and traffic cases tied to Thief River Falls and nearby communities. The latest filings include a DWI sentence, several traffic fines, a fish and wildlife case, and two dismissed matters.
The most serious case involved Dangelo William Benais, 26, of Thief River Falls. He was sentenced on a second-degree DWI count. The charge listed two or more aggravating factors. Court records show a $910 fine. The sentence also included 364 days in jail. Of that time, 274 days were stayed for four years.
Benais must serve 45 days in jail. He must report by 5 p.m. on March 20. Another 45 days may be served on electronic home monitoring. He received credit for 13 days already served. He was also placed on supervised probation for four years. Court records require a full assessment within 60 days. He must complete treatment and aftercare as recommended.
Traffic Cases Filed
Several traffic cases were also listed. In cases tied to the Minnesota State Patrol, Clint Stewart Panek, 39, of Goodridge, was fined $145 for a leaking or unsecured load.
Dylan Jay Witczak, 18, of Oregon, Illinois, was fined $125 for driving 64 miles per hour in a 60-mile-per-hour zone. Kenton Paul Wolford, 29, of Moorhead, was fined $115 for expired registration. Jerome Michael Kadlec, 40, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was fined $185 for careless driving. Laura Michelle Northfield, 39, of Brooklyn Park, was fined $125 for driving 70 in a 60 zone.
Fish and Wildlife Case
In a case tied to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Jason Robert Homme, 48, of Goodridge, was fined $185. The charge was taking fish in a closed season.
Cases From Thief River Falls Police
Other cases were tied to the Thief River Falls Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
Isaak Michael Anderson, 19, of Newfolden, was fined in a vehicle equipment case. He was ordered to pay $135 for a required muffler violation. He was also fined $50 for a tinted or glazed windshield. Another $50 fine was issued for window tint that was too dark.
Jerrold Darwin Asp, 56, of Red Lake Falls, had a charge involving an uninsured vehicle dismissed. Michelle Marie Holter, 51, of Thief River Falls, also saw charges dismissed. Those charges included fourth-degree DWI and a collision with an unattended vehicle. The court record said the failure to notify the victim or police charge was also dismissed.
These cases reflect the range of matters handled in the local court. They include impaired driving, traffic enforcement, fish and wildlife rules, and vehicle equipment violations. Readers can find more agency information through the Pennington County website and related state resources.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
