Judge sentences man to nearly five years in drug, tampering case

By David Olson

May 02, 2008 at 11:00 PM

A man accused of trying to harm a witness in a drug case was sentenced in Clay County District Court on Friday to nearly five years in prison.

Randall Scott Hegeholz, 45, earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of selling methamphetamine and one count of first-degree conspiracy to tamper with a witness.

Court documents say Hegeholz was in the Clay County Jail in February on suspicion of selling meth when he had a visit from a female friend, Darcel Anne Klinger.

Hegeholz told Klinger to contact a man they both knew to have him send a "message" to a witness in the drug case, according to court documents.

Klinger told police she understood Hegeholz wanted the witness killed, according to court documents.

At a plea hearing in April, Hegeholz said he wanted the witness harmed to prevent her from testifying.

On Friday, Judge Michael Kirk sentenced Hegeholz to four years and 11 months on the drug charge and to four years and seven months on the witness tampering charge. The sentences are to run concurrently. Charges are pending against Klinger.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555

By David Olson

I'm a reporter and a photographer and sometimes I create videos to go with my stories.

I graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead and in my time with The Forum I have covered a number of beats, from cops and courts to business and education.

I've also written about UFOs, ghosts, dinosaur bones and the planet Pluto.

You may reach me by phone at 701-241-5555, or by email at dolson@forumcomm.com.

Judge sentences man to nearly five years in drug, tampering case

A man accused of trying to harm a witness in a drug case was sentenced in Clay County District Court on Friday to nearly five years in prison. Randall Scott Hegeholz, 45, earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of selling methamphetamine and one count...