A 28-year-old woman will spend an additional year in prison after pleading guilty Monday to conspiracy to make methamphetamine.
Kelly Anne Tigerstrom entered the guilty plea in Cass County District Court.
In sentencing Tigerstrom, East Central District Judge Ralph Erickson settled on a compromise recommended by prosecutor Tracy Jo Peters and defense attorney Richard Edinger.
Edinger told the judge Tigerstrom shouldn't receive more prison time because she was arrested on the meth charge while out on bail for a robbery charge.
"She did this on the weekend before she was sentenced," her attorney, Richard Edinger, said. "I don't usually second-guess other attorneys."
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However, Edinger said Tigerstrom's previous defense attorney should have asked for the robbery and meth charges to be considered for one sentence.
Court documents show Tigerstrom was one of three people arrested when a Cass County sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle traveling near Casselton with a flat tire.
The deputy found items to make meth and a tank which was going to be used to steal anhydrous ammonia, court documents state.
In April, Tigerstrom received a four-year prison term for her part in a Wal-Mart parking lot robbery last Oct. 31 in Fargo.
In addition to the robbery charge, Tigerstrom also pleaded guilty to two counts each of forgery and possessing drug paraphernalia, possessing meth, theft, accomplice to burglary, accomplice to theft and giving false information to law enforcement.
Monday, Edinger asked that Tigerstrom not be sentenced to additional jail time.
Assistant Cass County State's Attorney Tracy Jo Peters said Edinger's recommendation came as a surprise to her. Peters asked the judge to sentence Tigerstrom to an additional 18 months in prison.
"We worked this out," Peters said. "We originally were going to ask for three years."
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The prosecutor said the recommendation was based on Tigerstrom's willingness to cooperate in arresting local drug dealers.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Steven P. Wagner at (701) 241-5542
