A Minot man charged with selling a fentanyl pill to a woman who was later hospitalized after smoking it last year, has been sentenced to serve eight years with the Department of Corrections after entering a change of plea to guilty on Monday.

Brandon Lamont Chandler, 37, Minot, entered his change of plea to the charge of distribution of controlled substance-resulting in death or injury, a Class A felony, in South Central District Court before Judge Bobbi Weiler. A Class B felony charge of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance-fentanyl was dismissed. The change of plea forestalled a requested speedy trial scheduled for Sept. 18.

According to court documents, the charges against Chandler and co-defendant Scott Rau arose in December of 2023 after Mandan Patrol officers responded to a report of an unresponsive female in a vehicle in the parking lot of a Mandan restaurant. Officers administered two doses of Narcan and chest compressions until the victim became responsive and was taken to a Bismarck hospital for treatment.

The victim later told investigators she had smoked fentanyl she purchased from Rau and Chandler at Chandler’s apartment in downtown Bismarck. Investigators then conducted interviews with Rau and Chandler.

Chandler claimed he was not in Bismarck on the night in question and didn’t have his phone in his possession as he had given it to an acquaintance. Investigators contacted this acquaintance, who said they no longer resided in North Dakota and hadn’t had contact with Chandler since 2015. Investigators later reviewed communications on Chandler’s and Rau’s devices detailing the sale of fentanyl to the victim.

Weiler sentenced Chandler to first serve eight years of a 20 year sentence with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with credit for 103 days already served. Chandler will be required to complete three years of supervised probation upon release and was ordered to have no contact with the victim. He was assessed $60 in court fines and fees.