Eddy County Sheriff's Report for January

Darin J. Tuenge of Rugby, a regular on the court calendar in several North Dakota counties for drug violations, is serving a 2-year sentence in the state penitentiary system for Class B Felony conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. Tuenge’s run-in with Eddy County authorities began on July 27 when he was stopped for speeding on Eddy County 1 east of Sheyenne. A subsequent search of his vehicle yielded 2.6 grams of meth, a digital scale, snorting straws and hundreds of small plastic bags. Authorities say he was accompanied by Colleen Wolters of Ft. Totten, who faces Class B Felony charges of possession with intent to deliver both marijuana and methamphetamines. Tuenge told officers that the items found belonged to Wolters. She has since pleaded not guilty to the charges, and her request for a change of venue is pending.

In court on Jan. 14, Tuenge pleaded guilty to two Class B Felony charges, one each for conspiracy to deliver methamphetamines and conspiracy to deliver marijuana. He was sentenced to 2 years at the state penitentiary, with credit for 8 days served. The sentence is concurrent with a McHenry County case in which he was convicted of numerous offenses, including fleeing an officer, reckless endangerment, driving under suspension, providing false information to law enforcement, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Upon his release, he will be subject to 2 years of supervised probation. He was also assessed $1,310 in fines and fees. Tuenge has had numerous felony drug-related convictions in Burleigh, Morton, Ramsey and McHenry counties over the past 8 years.

Jacob. B. Lenoir of Ft. Totten faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was stopped along Hwy. 281 for speeding on Jan. 4. A subsequent search of his vehicle resulted in the drug charges. His initial appearance is set for on Feb. 21, and he is scheduled to appear telephonically.

An habitual DUS offender was convicted in District Court. Schylar D. Abell of Bowdon was arrested in downtown New Rockford on Oct. 9, 2020 and charged with his seventh driving under suspension offense in the past five years. He reached a plea agreement in the case, and was sentenced on Jan. 14. As a result, he will only serve 20 days of his 60-day jail sentence. A $550 fine was also suspended in the case. He owes $460 in fees and will be subject to 360 days of unsupervised probation upon release from jail. Abell’s prior convictions came from Stutsman County (2016), Valley City (2016), Wells County (2016), Foster County (2019) and Barnes County (two in 2018).

Scott W. Solwey is accused of driving under suspension (DUS). The charge was filed after a traffic stop in rural Eddy County on Jan. 2. Solwey pleaded not guilty to the charge on Jan. 14. His pretrial conference is set for March 24. He was previously convicted of DUS in Devils Lake Municipal Court in 2016, and authorities believe his license is suspended due to a 2016 driving under the influence conviction.

Dominic D. Baker also faces a DUS charge. He was arrested along Eddy County 1 on Jan. 1. He pleaded not guilty, and his pretrial conference is also set for March 24. Authorities believe Baker’s license was suspended due to a 2020 DUI conviction in Ramsey County.

Two Ft. Totten men are due in court for a hunting violation. Authorities allege that Kevin J. Brown and Pernell A. Jackson were shining a flashlight in several areas looking for deer at around 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 10, 2020, well past legal shooting hours. They were observed by wardens on the ground and in the air as they conducted a patrol of an area where several large bucks had recently been poached. When authorities approached the men, they had loaded firearms in their possession and an untagged deer in the pickup box, according to the criminal complaint. Both face Class A Misdemeanor charges of using artificial light in taking big game. They pleaded not guilty to the charge on Jan. 14, and their pretrial conferences are set for March 24.

Rodney W. Skadsem of Warwick is charged with criminal trespass and driving off an established road while hunting big game. Authorities say Skadsem entered posted property and drove his vehicle through a field on Nov. 18, 2020 to retrieve and haul a deer his friend shot. He pleaded not guilty in court on Jan. 14, and his pretrial conference is set for March 24.

Loren J. Anderson of New Rockford was convicted on Jan. 14 of misdemeanor resisting arrest. The charges stemmed from an altercation with authorities within and outside the Sheyenne Bar on Oct. 8, 2020. In exchange for his guilty plea, Judge Hovey suspended his 30-day jail sentence. He was assessed $325 in fines and fees, ordered to participate in the 24/7 sobriety program for 60 days and required to complete a chemical dependency evaluation. He is also subject to 360 days of unsupervised probation.

Pepper S. M. Martin of Graham, Wash. has reached a plea agreement with authorities in a 2020 drug case. On Jan. 14, Martin pleaded guilty to Class A Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamines) and was sentenced to 360 days of unsupervised probation and assessed $360 in fines and fees. She was initially stopped for speeding on October 2, then a subsequent search of her vehicle yielded several items used to ingest methamphetamines. She was also cited for speeding, a $45 ticket.

Jessica Lunde of Maddock, was sentenced on Jan. 14 for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamines). Judge Hovey suspended her 60-day jail sentence and ordered her to pay $325 in fines and fees. She is also subject to 360 days of unsupervised probation and 60 days of monitoring via the 24/7 sobriety program. The charges were filed after a traffic stop on Nov. 7, 2020 in which she was the passenger in a car driven by Jeffrey Hulbert of Carrington.