Fosland Presides Over District Court Hearings
Four weeks after District Judge Benjamin Fosland reduced a defendant’s bond from $25,000 to $5,000, the judge granted a motion to allow the same defendant be released on his own recognizance on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Defendant Anthony Douglas Miller said he couldn’t obtain the funds needed to be released with the $5,000 bond. During his testimony, he said that he could make money with a fencing job if he was released. He said his first stop would be to move forward and receive treatment.
Miller made not guilty pleas to a felony count of possession of dangerous drugs, meth, and three misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia during a hearing in July.
County Attorney Thomas Bleicher pointed out that Miller misled the court at the previous hearing when he said he had a place to live near the courthouse. Since that hearing, the landowner had confirmed that Miller could no longer reside at that location.
Bleicher also noted that Miller admitted to the court that he doesn’t have an employer lined up. Miller said that he has a nearby friend who he thinks he could live with if he were released.
Judge Fosland said that it’s concerning that Miller doesn’t have a residence, but granted the OR release. He cautioned Miller not to fall back into his old habits. A condition of the release is for Miller to be drug tested three times a week.
In another hearing, Jamie Rose Hoyt of Williston, N.D., waived her extradition rights. She is facing a fugitive from justice complaint based on a warrant from Williams County, N.D.
After dealing with the charge in North Dakota, Hoyt will return to Roosevelt County for the case here.
Hoyt made not guilty pleas to the charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs - meth and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia during a hearing in late July.
