Minot woman convicted of drug charges | News, sports, jobs

Samara twin

A Minot woman was sentenced to 20 days in jail after changing her plea to a count of conspiracy to deliver fentanyl.

Samara Janelle Twinn, 21, Minot, entered a change of plea Oct. 30 in North Central District Court and pleaded guilty to the Class B felony. A second Class C felony count of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed.

According to court documents, Twinn was in contact with an undercover Ward County narcotics officer on a messaging app in July and negotiated the sale of 40 fentanyl pills for $600. After an aborted meeting on July 16, Twinn and the task force official agreed on July 17 to purchase 45 tablets from a store on North Broadway.

Twinn arrived at the appointed location in a vehicle driven by Chrissy Friday and associate Keith Belgard. Twinn entered the officer's vehicle but did not have the fentanyl with him.

According to the affidavit, Twinn agreed to take $300 of the agreed $600 and receive the rest after providing the fentanyl. Twinn had an active warrant at the time and was arrested after she and Friday attempted to flee the scene.

Friday was eventually located at a nearby store and, after being miranded, claimed that they had been there “root” Someone and the fentanyl paraphernalia were in the vehicle. Twinn, Belgarde and Friday were arrested and charged with possession of fentanyl paraphernalia and conspiracy to deliver. Friday was also charged with possession of fentanyl after a fentanyl pill was found on her person. Twinn and Belgarde both had previous convictions for dangerous drugs.

Judge Douglas Mattson sentenced Twinn to five years in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with all but 20 days suspended. Twinn received credit for 17 days already served and two days of earned good time. Mattson ordered Twinn to complete two years of supervised probation, complete a chemical dependency evaluation and enroll in and complete the North Dakota Adult and Teen Challenge Program. Twinn was fined $775 and charged $775 in fees.