Aggravated sentence sought in felony drug case that seized nearly $250,000 worth of drugs

ALEXANDRIA — The State of Minnesota plans to seek an aggravated sentence against a man who was pulled over on Interstate 94 with nearly a quarter million dollars worth of drugs.

Andrew Kyle Whittecar, 37, of Stevensville, Mont., has been charged with two controlled substance crimes in the first degree, one for possession of more than 500 dosage units of fentanyl, the other for possession of more than 500 dosage units of methamphetamine.

Each count holds a maximum sentence of 65 months to 40 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine.

Whittecar is also charged with gross misdemeanor possession of a firearm or ammunition by a prohibited person and misdemeanor fleeing a peace officer on foot.

According to the statement of probable cause, Whittecar was pulled over near mile marker 102 in Douglas County on April 27. A narcotics-detecting dog alerted the state trooper to the presence of a handbag which contained $3,000 wrapped in rubber bands, a dispensary marijuana container with an eightball of cocaine inside of it and approximately 75 M30 fentanyl pills, the statement read.

The trooper advised Whittecar that he was under arrest, upon which Whittecar began to run away, but tripped, fell and was taken into custody, the statement read.

The rest of the vehicle was searched and the following items were found in the trunk:

• A black Glock handgun case containing a Glock 17 handgun with a loaded magazine.
• A second loaded magazine.
• A sealed ammunition box covered in petroleum jelly and wrapped with tape and plastic wrap containing a large amount of M30 pills.

The box contained approximately 6,000 M30 pills and approximately 1,000 methamphetamine pills, the statement read, the estimated street value of which is nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
Whittecar has previously been convicted of federal firearms charges and bank fraud and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, the statement read.

On May 27, the State of Minnesota filed a notice of intent to seek an aggravated sentence in the case. The reason given was that "the offense was a major controlled substance offense, identified as an offense or series of offenses related to trafficking in controlled substances more onerous than the usual offense."

Some of the circumstances listed as aggravating factors included that "the offense involved an attempted or actual sale or transfer of controlled substances in quantities substantially larger than for personal use," and "the circumstances of the offense reveal the offender to have occupied a high position in the drug distribution hierarchy."

Whittecar's omnibus hearing has been scheduled for June 29.

A Nelson woman accused of stabbing a man made her initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on June 2.

Hannah Roth, 26, has been charged with felony second degree assault — dangerous weapon and misdemeanor domestic assault — intentionally inflict or attempt to inflict bodily harm for an incident that took place on May 12.

The man Roth is alleged to have assaulted was taken to Alomere Health in Alexandria, where he was treated for his injuries.

Roth's next court appearance will be an omnibus hearing scheduled for Aug. 17.