Local activist who admitted stealing state grant money withdraws guilty plea

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – A Fargo-area activist who pleaded guilty in October to felony theft of state grant money is changing her plea.

According to court documents, Faith Dixon filed a motion to withdraw her guilty plea because she was given “bad legal advice” and “would never have pleaded guilty” if she understood the terms of the agreement.

The motion says Dixon “should not suffer the consequences of her counsel’s regrettable, but inexcusable mistake.”

Dixon is accused of moving thousands of dollars of state grant money from her charity, Faith4Hope, to personal and family accounts. The grants were intended for after-school programs to help students who had been disproportionally affected by Covid-19 school closures.

The plea deal announced by Attorney General Drew Wrigley in October included a recommended sentence of 11 months in jail and more than $100,000 in restitution.

Dixon’s attorney, Dane DeKrey, declined to comment.

A new trial date has been set for January 27.