A 20-year-old man from rural Ogema, Wambli Ray Warren, has been sentenced in Becker County District Court after pleading guilty to a felony first-degree cannabis charge. The sentence stems from a February 25 incident when law enforcement received a report of a vehicle driving erratically and throwing a liquor bottle out the window in Detroit Lakes. A Becker County deputy stopped the vehicle for expired registration and discovered Warren in the front passenger seat.
During the search, officers found a bag containing the driver’s checkbook, ammunition magazines, and nearly $4,000 in cash. A box of 9 mm ammunition was located in the front passenger door near where Warren was sitting. Police also discovered 149 THC vapes totaling 298 grams and over 1.5 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle. The driver told officers he had purchased the drugs earlier that day in a park, while Warren admitted to arranging the purchase through Snapchat. All three occupants were charged in connection with the case.
On October 22, Warren appeared before Judge Michael D. Fritz, who granted a stay of adjudication — meaning the felony charge will be dismissed if he successfully completes probation. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail, receiving credit for seven days already served, and fined $510. Warren must also remain substance-free, complete a chemical assessment, and serve five years of supervised probation.
In a separate case, Kenneth Allen Schwindt, 58, of Fargo, was sentenced in Becker County District Court for felony drug possession and driving while impaired. According to court records, on December 28, 2024, a deputy stopped Schwindt’s vehicle and trailer for having no taillights. The deputy observed that Schwindt appeared nervous and had constricted pupils. When asked about weapons or drugs, he admitted to having a knife and methamphetamine in his pocket. A search revealed a capsule containing 0.43 grams of meth. Schwindt, who had a prior DWI conviction in 2019, pleaded guilty and appeared before Judge Fritz on October 22.
The judge granted him a stay of adjudication for the drug charge, which can also be dismissed upon completing probation. Schwindt was sentenced to 15 days in jail, fined $750, and placed on five years of supervised probation. For the DWI conviction, he received a 180-day jail sentence, with 150 days stayed for four years. He must serve 15 days in custody and 15 days on electronic home monitoring, complete a chemical assessment, and pay an additional $825 in court fees.
Meanwhile, John William Butcher, 42, of Park Rapids, was charged with felony fifth-degree drug possession after a May 9 traffic stop near Ponsford. A deputy pulled him over for a red light visible from his vehicle’s grill and discovered he was wanted on a warrant from Hubbard County. During the arrest, officers found a small bag containing 0.066 grams of meth in his pocket. Butcher is set to appear in court on December 9 before Judge Gretchen D. Thilmony.
These cases reflect Becker County’s ongoing effort to curb drug and substance-related crimes through law enforcement patrols and the courts’ emphasis on rehabilitation-focused sentencing.
