TONI BRESSETTE

IRON MOUNTAIN — A Marquette woman convicted of drug charges stemming from a traffic stop in July will serve a total of 16 months in jail.

Toni Bressette, 33, was sentenced Nov. 5 in Dickinson County Circuit Court to 10 months in jail for the possession of methamphetamine, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison; and, consecutively, six months in jail for furnishing contraband to prisoners, a five-year felony.

Bressette also received 10 months concurrently for entry without breaking with intent, a five-year penalty.

Bressette apologized for her actions, calling her arrest a “blessing in disguise.”

According to the criminal complaint, Bressette was stopped in Sagola Township while driving an unregistered vehicle on July 5. Troopers from the Michigan State Police reported Bressette’s license had been suspended.

During a search of Bressette’s vehicle, troopers found methamphetamine in the glove box, a pipe with residue in her purse and a suspected hydrocodone pill on the driver’s seat, the complaint stated.

During booking, troopers found suspected methamphetamine on Bressette.

According to a second complaint, several items in Bressette’s vehicle — which included a hunting license — were taken from a West Branch Township camp in November and were identified after troopers contacted the owner of the license.

Bressette initially pleaded not guilty Aug. 14 but was rearraigned Sept. 23 as part of a plea agreement.

In exchange for Bressette’s guilty plea, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristin Kass agreed to dismiss charges of possession of a controlled substance analogue, a two-year felony; operating with a license suspended, revoked or denied, second, a one-year misdemeanor; and operating an unregistered vehicle, a 90-day misdemeanor.

In a separate file, Kass agreed to reduce a charge of breaking and entering a building with intent — a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison — to entry without breaking with intent.

Kass also agreed to dismiss a habitual offender-second notice in both files, which would have increased the maximum sentence 1 1/2 times.

Brian Christensen can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or bchristensen@ironmountaindailynews.com.