Judge units trial, ‘not going to play games’ after letting Fargo activist out of plea deal – InForum

BISMARCK — A Fargo activist who was set free of a botched

plea deal

in her misappropriation case stated she will not be responsible, prompting a pissed off choose to set the matter for trial and say she is “not going to play games” within the case.

Faith Shields-Dixon,

46, modified her plea on Tuesday, Dec. 2, in Burleigh County District Court to property theft, reversing her earlier determination to confess to allegations that she misused state funds. The about-face improvement angered Judge Bobbi Weiler, who moments earlier than let Shields-Dixon withdraw responsible pleas with the understanding that the defendant would signal a corrected plea settlement and reenter the request for forgiveness.

“We’re not going to play any more games with the court,” Weiler stated as she set the case for trial.

Shields-Dixon, a Black Lives Matter activist within the Fargo-Moorhead space, is accused of misappropriating grant cash she acquired from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. The DPI agreed to present Shields-Dixon, by way of her nonprofit Faith4Hope, $350,000 over the course of three years beginning Nov. 1, 2021.

The funds had been meant for after-school packages that may assist college students who had been disproportionately impacted by coronavirus pandemic college closures, in accordance with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office. Receipts confirmed Shields-Dixon gave $124,000 to companies owned or managed by members of the family, in accordance with a prison grievance.

That included her husband’s meals stand, Diezel Double BBQ, her brother’s music and manufacturing firm and her sister-in-law’s dance studio, courtroom paperwork allege.

State officers started investigating how the funds had been utilized in mid-2022 earlier than a prison investigation was launched in September 2023, in accordance with courtroom paperwork.

Shields-Dixon’s husband, 52-year-old Charles Dixon, pleaded responsible Nov. 7 to 1 rely of property theft in connection to the case. Weiler sentenced him to a few years of supervised probation.

On the identical day, Faith Shields-Dixon’s legal professional, Dane DeKrey, stated she needed to withdraw her responsible plea to a few counts of property theft. She pleaded responsible on Oct. 20 after signing a plea settlement with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, which is prosecuting the case.

Prosecutors deliberate to ask that she serve 11 months in jail, whereas DeKrey argued for 4 months, in accordance with the settlement.

The settlement

was not binding, that means Weiler may sentence Shields-Dixon to a most of 10 years on every rely.

DeKrey stated the plea deal was presupposed to restrict Weiler’s skill to condemn Shields-Dixon to between 4 and 11 months, however he mistakenly overlooked that language within the settlement. His shopper by no means would have agreed to a nonbinding deal, he stated.

Weiler requested Shields-Dixon throughout an Oct. 20 plea listening to if she understood the settlement was nonbinding. Shields-Dixon checked out DeKrey for recommendation earlier than answering sure.

DeKrey argued that his shopper was “visibly confused” earlier than answering the query. He stated he gave Shields-Dixon dangerous recommendation, including that he failed his shopper.

“My client shouldn’t have to bear this by being subject to this plea agreement,” he stated Nov. 7.

Weiler stated she was hesitant to let Shields-Dixon withdraw her plea for the reason that choose requested if the defendant understood the settlement. DeKrey argued that the plea was not “knowing and voluntary,” that means it may very well be appealed if Weiler didn’t withdraw the deal.

“I’m not happy with this,” Weiler stated Tuesday.

Weiler stated she didn’t need to open the door to defendants withdrawing their plea offers as a result of they determined later they didn’t just like the settlement, however she agreed to let Shields-Dixon withdraw her responsible plea to keep away from an enchantment.

Weiler stated she thought Shields-Dixon would signal a corrected settlement and reenter the responsible pleas on Tuesday. But when requested how she pleaded, Shields-Dixon stated “not guilty.”

“I am super frustrated,” Weiler stated.

Shields-Dixon, who appeared for the listening to remotely, stated she was confused and requested for a break. She turned off her digital camera, and DeKrey picked up a cellphone, suggesting the 2 had a dialog off digital camera.

DeKrey and Shields-Dixon then turned their cameras again on and Weiler angrily requested the legal professional what was taking place.

DeKrey stated that as of Monday, Shields-Dixon deliberate to plead responsible to the corrected plea settlement. Jeremy Ensrud, an assistant legal professional common who’s prosecuting the case, additionally stated he was greatly surprised by Tuesday’s plea.

Weiler once more requested Shields-Dixon for a plea, which was nonetheless not responsible. The choose set a four-day trial for Jan. 27 and stated she would not settle for any binding agreements.

“I’m not going to play games today,” the choose stated.