Suspended sentence for Gillette man charged with possession

Gage Vauthier of Gillette has been given a suspended sentence on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance after meth and marijuana were allegedly found in his vehicle after it crashed on the highway in Crook County.

On May 4, 2020, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was notified by dispatch at around 5:30 p.m. that a subject was walking east on U.S. Hwy 16 and a single vehicle crash had taken place near milepost 210.

The trooper arrived at the scene and observed a woman on foot, traveling west.

The woman allegedly told the trooper Vauthier was the driver of the vehicle and had left the scene traveling east. The trooper observed a vehicle around 100 feet south of the highway with damage consistent with a rollover crash. He reports then traveling east to approximately milepost 214 but was unable to locate anyone walking.

According to the trooper’s affidavit, multiple law enforcement units searched the area for the driver. The trooper examined the roadway evidence and vehicle damage and noticed a glass smoking pipe in the vehicle.

Inside the vehicle, he allegedly found a marijuana grinder, a container with “substantial” marijuana shake and two baggies of what he believed to be crystal meth. A short time later, Vauthier was arrested in Weston County for possession of a controlled substance (less than 3 oz) and failure to report a crash, as well as an active Wyoming warrant.

On May 13, the trooper reports that he contacted the State of Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division in an attempt to trace the purchase of the dispensary products located in the vehicle. The items had allegedly been purchased at separate dispensaries near Grand Junction on May 3.

Photos allegedly also showed Vauthier to be present at the time of purchase, but he was denied service due to an invalid ID.

Judge Stuart S. Healy III sentenced Vauthier to between five and seven years of incarceration, suspended pending successful completion of three years of pro