A plan to create an alibi for a friend facing murder charges brought an end to Timothy F. Bauman's freedom quicker than he hoped.
Already facing a federal drug trafficking charge, Bauman visited Alan Michael Wessels in the Clay County Jail, where the two agreed Jan. 3 on a plan to help Wessels avoid murder charges.
The plan backfired because communications are recorded at the jail. It landed Bauman, who had been released on conditions pending a trial next week, back in jail.
Bauman, 22, of Breckenridge, Minn., pleaded guilty Friday in Fargo's U.S. District Court to drug and obstruction charges. He will be sentenced Oct. 26 and faces
10 years to life in prison.
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His attorney asked U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson to release Bauman until the sentencing date, a request rejected by the judge.
Federal prosecutors said Bauman sold about 2 pounds of meth for Michael Petzold and knew Lee Avila, an East Grand Forks, Minn., man, likely would be killed for a drug debt. Petzold pleaded guilty in October to avoid a death penalty trial for Avila's murder.
Previously, prosecutors said Petzold and others went to Bauman's residence to shower and get ready to visit Avila, who was killed June 30, 2005.
Jorge "Sneaky" Arandas, Wessels, Gabriel Martinez and a defendant whose name has not been released all face a potential death penalty trial Sept. 10 in Fargo. Prosecutors say Arandas ordered the hit on Avila and Petzold participated, but didn't shoot him.
Last week, Erickson unsealed the case at the request of prosecutors, but nearly all substantive documents remain sealed. The latest indictment, which provides details of the charges against the men, does not appear on the public docket.
No explanation has been given despite a request by The Forum.
Attorney Robert Hoy, one of three attorneys for Arandas, has requested the judge issue a gag order to lawyers, court staff and potential witnesses. The gag order would prevent trial participants from commenting on a case in which few records or details have been released.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
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Steven P. Wagner at (701) 241-5542
