Newlyweds Jason Stenehjem and Shanna Stewart-Stenehjem will spend the next 54 months in prison as a result of several drug-related felony and misdemeanor charges.

The couple, married Oct. 20, were sentenced by South Central District Judge Robert Wefald in a Friday court appearance. Wefald ordered each to 22 years of incarceration, with all but five years suspended, including time served. They also will serve five years of probation after their release.

Following the proceeding, the two were taken to the Burleigh County jail.

For the past seven months Stenehjem and Stewart-Stenehjem have participated in the Teen Challenge program in Mandan. Their court-appointed lawyers asked that all of their sentences be suspended and they be allowed to continue the Teen Challenge program, which runs for 13 months.

Administrators from Teen Challenge and Francis Stewart, Shanna's mother, said they had seen remarkable changes during the pair's participation. During the faith-based program, the couple were tested for drugs and all tests returned negative.

For a March 18 incident, both Stenehjem and Stewart-Stenehjem were charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, a Class B felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Class C felony; possession of methamphetamine drug paraphernalia, a Class C felony; and possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. Stenehjem alone was charged with possession of oxycodone, a Class C felony.

For a March 2 incident, each was charged with conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, a Class A felony; possession of methamphetamine drug paraphernalia, a Class C felony; and marijuana drug paraphernalia with intent to use, a Class A misdemeanor.

Stenehjem was charged with possession of marijuana by a driver, a Class A misdemeanor. Stewart-Stenehjem was charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.

Because of the severity of their crimes, Wefald said, he could not suspend the entire sentence as requested. He did encourage the couple to continue with Teen Challenge after their release.