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Kingsford man sentenced in meth case

By Brian Christensen 2 min read
BRADEN DETTMAN

IRON MOUNTAIN -- A Kingsford man convicted of selling methamphetamine will spend a year in jail.

Braden Dettman, 26, was sentenced Monday in Dickinson County Circuit Court for the delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Defense attorney Roy Polich said Dettman had been attending a substance abuse treatment program and wanted to move forward with his life with his wife and two children.

Polich asked his client be allowed work release.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Alex Sieminski acknowledged Dettman had "a lot going for him" and described the opportunity for a county jail sentence as an "aberration."

If Dettman winds up back in court for methamphetamine-related charges, Sieminski said, he would likely be sentenced to prison.

Dettman apologized for his actions, saying his children deserved better.

Dickinson County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ninomiya noted the majority of people convicted of methamphetamine-related charges faced prison sentences and encouraged Dettman to learn from his mistake.

"Not many 26-year-olds have what you have," Ninomiya said, adding, "It can all go away in a heartbeat."

According to the criminal complaint, Dettman was arrested by the KIND drug team for selling methamphetamine Sept. 27, 2018.

Dettman initially pleaded not guilty April 15 but changed his plea Aug. 29 in exchange for dismissing a separate file in which he faced another count of the delivery or manufacture of methamphetamine as well as maintaining a drug house -- a high court misdemeanor with a two-year penalty.

Additionally, Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Richards did not object to Dettman's request for a county jail sentence.

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