Sarah Jean Mona Dubinsky, 24, Bemidji, was convicted Nov. 5 in Morrison County District Court of one felony count of fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 25, law enforcement on routine patrol on Highway 10 found that the registered owner of a passing vehicle had a suspended license.
The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Dubinsky, who admitted that she was the registered owner and her license had been suspended.
The officer noted that a young boy was in the back seat and did not appear to be wearing a seat belt. While observing the child, the officer noted what appeared to be a can of beer on the floor. The can appeared to be sealed but seemed lighter than a full can of beer, and the officer recognized it as a “diversion can” containing a concealed compartment.
The officer unscrewed the top of the container and detected a strong odor of marijuana.
Dubinsky was then informed that her vehicle would be searched and she admitted she had “some dope” in her purse. She also admitted to using meth sometimes.
Inside Dubinsky’s purse was found a jeweler’s bag with a white crystal substance that appeared to be meth.
Also in the vehicle was an infant seated in a car seat that did not appear to be buckled in with a seat belt.
While in custody, Dubinsky was asked if she had anything else illegal in her possession and produced a glass pipe containing a white residue that appeared to be methamphetamine.
Dubinsky admitted she had purchased the methamphetamine in her purse, which she stated was about half a gram, for $50.
Dubinsky was given a stay of imposition and sentenced to five years supervised probation and 42 days in jail, with credit for 42 days already served.
She was also fined $135.
Dubinsky had one misdemeanor count of driving after suspension dismissed as part of a plea bargain.