A Beulah man accused of 19 felonies and three misdemeanors in connection with stolen credit and debit cards, checkbooks, computers and a vehicle in Bismarck had a $50,000 unsecured bond set Thursday and was ordered back into court-supervised treatment and housing.
Taylor Kraft, 23, was sentenced to the drug court program and given two years of supervised probation on March 19 after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia -- his eighth drug-related offense since 2021, according to court records. That sentence came while authorities were investigating Kraft in connection with a number thefts across Bismarck beginning in late January into mid-February, according to an affidavit.
The 22 charges filed on March 27 represent alleged thefts from eight locations inside city limits; in some of them multiple credit and debit cards were reported stolen from vehicles that were reportedly left unlocked.
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One of the debit cards was used to secure ride share services, according to the affidavit. Information from the ride share service allegedly showed an account had been set up tied to an email address associated with Kraft.
Officers tracked down Kraft and arrested him at a residence in the 800 block of Lincoln Avenue on outstanding warrants. Police said they discovered a bag containing stolen credit cards, debit cards and other items. Other bags containing stolen computers were reportedly uncovered in the basement of the residence, and the affidavit states the vehicle reported stolen was found in the garage.
The resident reportedly told police he had allowed Kraft to store the vehicle there with the promise the resident would be allowed to take the car to Fargo on a shopping trip.
During Thursday's hearing, Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Wayne Goter recommended Taylor be held on a $100,000 cash bond due to his previous criminal history and the fact that more charges might be forthcoming. Goter also said Kraft attempted to hide from law enforcement before his arrest at the residence.
South Central District Judge Cynthia Feland told Kraft that the order he be released back to the drug court program comes with strict conditions. She said that if he were to be convicted he could face decades in prison.
"That's pretty much your natural life," she told him, adding that "Some people say you can't ever collect on an unsecured bond. I assure you I will extract that pound of flesh. I expect you to toe the line."
Kraft's preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 3. He could enter pleas at that time. Court records do not indicate an attorney in reference to the latest charges.