Stutsman County Courts Issue Fines, Suspensions; Marriage Licenses Recorded

Local courts in Stutsman County imposed fines, restitution and suspended jail terms in a range of cases touching public safety, hunting compliance and drug-related offenses, while the county recorder documented two new marriage licenses.

In Jamestown Municipal Court, presided over by Judge Lawrence Kropp, 24-year-old Darrell James Dauphinais Jr. was assessed $125 in administrative fees-general, $100 in court costs, $500 in fines and fees, a $25 victim-witness fee, and received five days suspended. The municipal action illustrates how low-level disorderly conduct and public urination cases are resolved through financial penalties and short suspended terms that carry conditions for compliance.

Southeast District Court, where the bench includes Presiding Judge Daniel D. Narum along with Judges Nicholas Thornton, Bradley Cruff, James D. Hovey, Troy LeFevre, Jay Schmitz and James Shockman, issued a string of rulings reported Jan. 17. Under Judge Narum, 30-year-old Auston James Peterson was ordered to pay $200 in restitution and assessed fees, with 390 days suspended for criminal mischief and false reports to law enforcement. The ruling emphasizes restitution to victims alongside suspended custodial time.

Judge James Shockman handed down several sentences. Jakob Jose Schempp, 22, convicted of domestic violence-bodily injury, received court-ordered conditions that include fingerprinting and treatment and was given three days suspended. Martin Moreno Jr., 20, convicted of a first-offense DUI, was ordered to complete evaluations, pay fines and received one day suspended. Joseph Alva Perleberg, 38, of Buchanan, N.D., was fined, faced forfeiture and received 30 days suspended for hunting in the wrong unit and unlawful taking of big game, underscoring enforcement of hunting unit boundaries and game regulations. Anthony Ruiz, 32, received 18 months supervised probation, fees and 29 days suspended for possession of drug paraphernalia, reflecting a combination of supervision and limited custody in paraphernalia cases. Other possession and paraphernalia matters reported included varied sentences and conditions tailored to defendants and charges.

For residents, these dispositions signal continued local enforcement on issues from public order to wildlife laws and substance offenses. Suspended sentences paired with probation, treatment and restitution aim to balance accountability with rehabilitation while reducing immediate jail use; they also create ongoing monitoring and court follow-up that involve county probation and treatment resources.

The Stutsman County Recorder’s Office recorded two marriage licenses: Kyra Dewald and Cole Diede of Jamestown, and Carly Houle and Adam Peltier of Jamestown. Those filings update the public record and matter for legal status and local demographic tracking.

These proceedings reflect how county courts and the recorder handle matters that affect daily life in Stutsman County - from restitution for victims and enforcement of hunting rules to formalizing family legal status. Expect continued monitoring of probation conditions and follow-up hearings as cases progress through the local system.