Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Dontaye Burton of Iowa has been given a suspended sentence on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver after he and a companion were found to be transporting a significant quantity of marijuana products upon being pulled over for speeding on Hwy 212.
On December 17, 2020, at around 5:40 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper spotted Burton’s vehicle speeding and conducted a traffic stop. The trooper reports that he approached the vehicle and smelled a very strong odor of raw marijuana before he even got to the open window on the passenger side.
The driver, identified as Burton, advised that the vehicle was a rental. He allegedly stated he was coming from, “Uh, Mont, uh, Mont…Seattle. I said Montana.”
When asked what he had going on in Seattle, Burton allegedly said he just went to see the mountains and visits either Seattle or Texas because he has family in both places. Burton allegedly admitted that he had smoked marijuana while in Seattle but denied there was any contraband in the vehicle.
According to the trooper’s report, a search of the vehicle revealed several dispensary jars of suspected marijuana in the center console and a black trash bag in the spare tire well that could be seen through an opening in the rear cargo area.
The trooper opened the spare tire area and found 14 gallon-sized bags containing a leafy substance he recognized as marijuana in the trash bag. This was later measured at 8 lbs 2 oz including the packaging.
Once the vehicle had been towed to the WYDOT shop, a thorough search revealed dispensary type marijuana throughout the vehicle with receipts showing it was purchased in Washington. Several packages of marijuana were allegedly found in the center console, glove box and under both front seats.
Burton pled guilty to one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. He was fined $1000 and sentenced to between five and seven years by Judge Stuart S. Heally III, with all but the 209 days already served to be suspended pending completion of three years of supervised suspension.
