June 3 – PENNINGTON COUNTY, Minn. – A woman from Fosston, Minnesota, made her first appearance in court in Pennington County on Monday, June 3, where she is charged with committing a first-degree drug offense.
Michelle Jean Laird, 52, was convicted last year of a third-degree drug crime. Due to her prior conviction, she faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of four years for the first-degree charge.
On Nov. 7, 2023, a confidential informant told police that Laird had contacted them about purchasing methamphetamine, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
Laird allegedly met the informant outside the Goodridge bar, located at 305 Vaughan Main St. E. in Goodridge, Minnesota, at 10:30 p.m. She sold the informant 14,213 grams of methamphetamine for $400, the affidavit said.
A second controlled purchase took place on November 26 in the parking lot of the Falls Cinema, located at 15469 US Highway 59 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Laird allegedly sold the informant 3.08 grams of methamphetamine for $150.
Laird is currently in Polk County for drug possession and drunken driving, so there is an arrest warrant attached to the Pennington County case, although she is not at large.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 24 at 1 p.m.
