A former Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity member faces 19 felony and three misdemeanor charges following a raid on his home early this month.
John Michael Iten, 23, of Fargo, was arrested April 4 after the police raid at his home at 1117 10th Ave. N. Iten was a member of North Dakota State’s Delta-Psi chapter of TKE. He joined the fraternity in the late fall of 2011, Travis O’Brien, TKE’s vice president and public relations chair said.
Iten “was an active member into 2014,” O’Brien said. Sadie Rudolph, North Dakota State’s media relations coordinator, said Iten was also a student at NDSU before he withdrew from the university in April 2015. An online event schedule for spring 2014 fraternity recruitment lists Iten as a contact for events the week of Jan. 27-30, 2014.
Iten faces several drug charges filed April 6, including possession and possession with intent to deliver amphetamine, hallucinogen, heroin, marijuana and meth, Cass County criminal case records show. His drug charges include possession within 1,000 feet of a school or childcare facility. Roosevelt Elementary School is less than 500 feet from his 10th Street home.
Iten also faces a charge of endangerment of a child as his 1-year-old daughter was found inside his home amid the different drugs and weapons including an AR-15, AK-47 and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Cass County Social Services is now caring for the girl.
Other charges against Iten include counterfeiting and possession of drug paraphernalia, Cass County records show.
His felony charges range from Class AA to Class C, the former of which can carry a sentence of life in prison without parole. Iten faces three Class AA felonies among his 22 charges. His other felony charges carry sentences varying from five to 20 years in prison with up to $10,000 in fines, the North Dakota Century Code says in relation to penalties and sentencing.
His misdemeanor charges range from Class A to B, which can carry a minimum sentence of 30 days in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.
Iten remains at the Cass County Jail, the jail’s current inmate roster shows. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 11, Cass County records show, with a felony dispositional conference set for July 12.