Two people from Bismarck face charges related to the delivery of fentanyl following a traffic stop Thursday evening.
Angella Baumgartner and Javonne Hunt both face felony charges of possession with intent to deliver more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Baumgartner also faces a misdemeanor charge of possessing meth. If convicted, each faces a potential sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000.
A Highway Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle driven by Hunt on Interstate 94 after observing the car swerving over the fog line at least twice, according to an affidavit. Hunt was driving on a suspended license and was detained. Baumgartner was a passenger.
A Burleigh County K-9 handler detected the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle, resulting in a search that uncovered a baggie of marijuana and a cracker box containing a plastic bag with 313 grams of suspected fentanyl pills with a street value of more than $90,000, according to the affidavit. While the number of pills seized wasn't stated, previous drug cases and reporting has shown similar pills routinely weigh a tenth of a gram each. That could have resulted in a seizure of more than 3,000 pills allegedly in Baumgartner and Hunt's possession.
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Officers said they also found roughly one gram of meth inside Baumgartner's purse, which resulted in the misdemeanor charge.
Officers didn't find any paraphernalia associated with drug use inside the vehicle, leading them to believe Hunt and Baumgartner had picked the drugs up elsewhere and were bringing the drugs back into the area with the purpose of selling them, according to the affidavit.
A judge on Friday set bond at $100,000 cash for Hunt and at $50,000 cash for Baumgartner. Assistant Burleigh County State's Attorney Joshua Jyring had requested a higher bond for both based on the quantity of drugs.
"He could have had a tenth of that amount and it would still be an A felony," Jyring said about Hunt's case. Jyring also pointed to Hunt's more extensive criminal history including currently being on parole in a 2021 child abuse case.
Court records do not indicate an attorney for Hunt.
Shelly Thompson, the attorney representing Baumgartner, requested an unsecured bond. Thompson pointed to Baumgartner's limited criminal history, her status as a parent of a teenager and the fact she's employed. Jyring had recommended Baumgartner's bond be set at $100,000.
The two suspects are due back in court May 28.