Joseph Schaeffer and Tyler Norstedt, both of Spicer, are the most recent graduates of the Eighth Judicial District Drug Treatment Court program. Their graduation ceremony was conducted recently in Willmar.
In the past month, the cities of Marshall, Robbinsdale and St. Joseph approved moratoriums on sales. Other cities across Minnesota are also considering moratoriums as they weigh how they'll tackle enforcement.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals found the Kandiyohi County District Court did not err when finding Franky Torres "particularly amenable" to probation and allowing him to serve probation instead of prison.
A 46-year-old Willmar man was sentenced to prison for a first-degree drug sale conviction. The CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force found methamphetamine and fentanyl pills during execution of search warrants in the case.
Three people were arrested on drug-related charges; law enforcement warns public about dangers of the fentanyl pills, which have contributed to the deaths of individuals in the area.
The CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force serves a population of approximately 100,000 residents in the west central Minnesota counties of Meeker, Kandiyohi, Swift, Chippewa and Yellow Medicine.
Fentanyl seizures, which were previously rare in the west central Minnesota area served by the CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force, have become more commonplace, but methamphetamine is still "king," task force representatives told the Willmar City Council during a presentation earlier this week.
Emilio Ozornia was sentenced to prison June 1, the second prison sentence this year for him. He was sentenced earlier this year for felony drug sale, and on June 1 for felony drug possession.
New information led to a vacated conviction for Donald Schmitz of Montevideo. A seven and a half year prison sentence was vacated, and he was given a new prison sentence that was stayed if he completes probation. He received credit for the time he had already spent in prison.
