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Kristin Keel, Donnybrook, sentenced to two weeks in jail for forgery, fraud

One-time Donnybrook park board member Kristin Marie Keel, 33, Donnybrook, will serve about two weeks in jail for setting up a fake Facebook page seeking donations for playground equipment for Donnybrook to fulfill the wishes of a supposedly sick child.

Court records show that Keel pleaded guilty on Wednesday in district court in Minot to two counts of Class C felony forgery by a public servant and one count of Class C felony fraudulent or misleading communications on a web page.

Judge Richard Hagar sentenced her to 360 days in jail on each count, with a requirement that she serve two weeks in jail, and two years of supervised probation.

She must also pay court costs and restitution to be determined.

If Keel successfully completes probation, the felonies will appear as Class A misdemeanors on her record.’

Keel must report to the Ward County Jail to begin serving her sentence on Sept. 16.

The state dismissed a Class A misdemeanor charge of making a false report to law enforcement.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court and statements made at past court hearings, Keel made a false claim that her young son had leukemia. She had also presented a contract to the park board for signatures agreeing to the conditions specified by Make a Wish and the park board had been advertising its current playground equipment for donation. The Ward County Sheriff’s Department notified the Donnybrook park board that it was investigating Keel and the playground equipment was not donated.

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