California man gets suspended sentence for possession

The second of two California men who faced felony charges after a wide range of controlled substances were discovered scattered throughout their vehicle has been given a suspended sentence.

On July 10, 2021, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was patrolling I-90 near mile marker 187 when a white van approached at a speed radar recorded as 96 mph. The trooper conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Thomas Vandort.

While looking around the interior of the van, the trooper reports observing a vape pen with a cartridge he recognized as similar to THC cartridges. The trooper was given permission to retrieve and identify it and reports the glass cartridge was indeed labeled THC.

During the interaction, the trooper states in his affidavit that he observed a male lying on the floor in the cargo area of the vehicle. When asked, Vandort allegedly said he was giving him a ride to Minnesota or Missouri, but couldn’t remember which. The passenger identified himself as John Skaalerud, also of California.

Vandort claimed Skaalerud was moving to Minnesota. Both the driver and Skaalerud were instructed to exit the vehicle, frisk searched and placed in the patrol vehicle of a second trooper.

The trooper conducted a probable cause search and located a box with several prescription pill bottles, a vape pen with a suspected THC cartridge, a bottle containing suspected marijuana, a brown paper bag containing suspected marijuana buds, three vape pen cartridges allegedly containing THC, a glass pipe with the burnt residue of suspected marijuana, a brown paper bag with nine “nug cones” inside and two more THC vape cartridges, a clear glass pipe with white residue, a clear bag containing a green leaf bud and shake of suspected marijuana, a plastic cylinder containing several clear baggies, with the top one containing a nugget of suspected methamphetamine and the other two containing ground white crystal powder and a water bong containing suspected marijuana residue.

Skaalerud allegedly claimed ownership of both THC vape pens and the marijuana in the box of prescription medications, as well as the brown bag. He allegedly denied any knowledge of the meth pipe or meth and stated a test would reveal he had not used anything but marijuana.

Vandort pled guilty to a felony count of possession of THC and was sentenced to between two and four years in a state penal institution, suspended pending successful completion of three years of supervised probation.

Skaalerud pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance last fall and also received a suspended sentence.