Patti Fern Heckelsmiller, 53, Minot, was sentenced on April 14 to four years in prison, with a requirement that she serve 148 days, and three years of supervised probation, for Class B felony delivery of methamphetamine. She will receive credit for 75 days already served in the Ward County Jail, plus 10 days off her sentence for good behavior. The 63 days she spent in inpatient treatment will also count toward the sentence so she will not be required to serve any additional jail time.

Heckelsmiller was also ordered to obtain a chemical dependency evaluation and to pay $900 in court costs.

The state dismissed a Class C felony possession of drug paraphernalia charge under the terms of a plea deal.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Heckelsmiller was charged following a traffic stop on Aug. 11, 2020. A police dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Heckelsmiller’s purse contained a combined 32.3 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale with suspected drug residue and a glass pipe and glass bulb typically used for consuming meth. Heckelsmiller reportedly told the officer that she had been dealing meth to make ends meet. She told police she does not believe that any of the people she sold the meth to have overdosed.