Judge Lowers Bond for Drug Case Defendant
Darnell Devonta Patterson, charged in a cocaine trafficking case in Grand Forks, had his bond reduced to $40,000 cash only.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Drug Crime
A judge lowered Darnell Devonta Patterson's bond to $40,000 cash only after he pleaded not guilty to all charges. Patterson, 31, faces Class A felony counts of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, plus a Class C felony count of tampering with evidence.
Why it matters
The reduced bond means Patterson can be released on cash payment while the case proceeds in Grand Forks. The case stems from a cocaine seizure that involved multiple arrests and a SWAT-assisted search.
Patterson faces Class A felony conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine charges, plus a Class C felony tampering charge, after pleading not guilty to all counts. His bond was lowered from $50,000 cash only to $40,000 cash only by Judge Ted Sandberg, while co-defendant Omar Jamal Williams's bond was changed to a $50,000 L Bond on Oct. 30.
The players
Darnell Devonta Patterson
A 31-year-old defendant charged with cocaine conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute, who pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Ted Sandberg
The judge who reduced Patterson's bond to $40,000 cash only in the Grand Forks case.
The details
Patterson, Omar Jamal Williams, and Angelo Demarco Matthews were arrested Sept. 19 after law enforcement seized 241.3 grams of cocaine and other drug paraphernalia during a search of Williams' residence and vehicle, in which various agencies including a SWAT team took part. Patterson's attorney, Mirranda Nelson, requested the bond reduction, and Patterson's family and significant other have been able to collect the $40,000.
Timeline
Sept. 19: Three defendants arrested after cocaine seizure and search.
Sept. 25: Patterson and Williams requested lower bonds, which were denied.
Oct. 30: Williams's bond changed to a $50,000 L Bond.
Nov. 2: Judge Ted Sandberg lowered Patterson's bond to $40,000 cash only.
Legal Context
The charges against Patterson are Class A felonies, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison under North Dakota law. The bond dispute reflects how courts weigh flight risk against the seriousness of such felony cocaine trafficking charges.
Residents of Grand Forks should note that a cocaine trafficking case with multiple defendants is moving through local courts. The case's progress may affect neighborhood safety concerns tied to drug activity in the area.
The takeaway
Bond decisions in felony drug cases depend on how courts weigh a defendant's flight risk against the charges he faces. Readers following local court news can track how such cases progress through the Grand Forks court system.
Further reading
For more on similar cases, browse Drug Crime coverage.
