Fosland Presides Over District Court Hearings

For the third time, Whitley Raquel Arredondo Adams failed to appear for her sentencing hearing in district court on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Adams of Williston, N.D., earlier failed to show up for hearings on Dec. 11, 2024, and Dec. 13, 2024. She is to be sentenced for the possession of illegal drugs.

“I see we appear to be missing a defendant,” District Judge Benjamin Fosland said at the start of the hearing.

Defense attorney Mark Epperson said, “I don’t know where she is.”

Epperson added that he sent an email to Adams on Monday to remind her about the hearing. He said he hasn’t heard from her in a while.

Roosevelt County Attorney Thomas Bleicher noted that an order to appear was issued in December, but the Williston Police Department hasn’t been able to serve her.

Fosland said he will issue a bench warrant for her arrest.

In addition, Lorenzo Dean Valencia had a revocation hearing on Wednesday. He originally received a suspended sentence for theft in 2022.

Probation officer Bruce Barstad testified that Valencia had some issues while on probation including not correctly reporting and other criminal activity in Minnesota.

Barstad stressed the importance of Valencia completing an interstate compact. He recommended that Valencia have his sentence revoked and then reinstated. He recommended five years with the Department of Corrections with no time suspended.

Valencia, representing himself, said he called Barstad often and didn’t receive calls back.

Valencia testified that since a domestic assault charge in March of 2024, he has turned his life around. He has gone through domestic abuse treatment, works five days a week and lives with a family member. He reports to a probation officer in Minnesota.

County Attorney Bleicher recommended to follow Barstad’s advice and incarcerate Valencia for an appropriate amount of time to complete interstate compact forms. Bleicher also asked for Valencia to receive punishment for committing a crime while on probation.

Valencia said, “I’ve had a rough life. This is the best I’ve been doing in my life.”

Judge Fosland decided to reimpose the original sentence and suspend all of it on the condition that Valencia doesn’t leave the state until he completes the interstate compact forms.

“It appears to me like your life is trending in the right direction,” Fosland said.

He told Valencia that he is receiving a break. “As my predecessor would say, don’t make me look stupid.”