Gillette resident given suspended sentence for possession

A Gillette resident has been given a suspended sentence as part of a plea agreement on possession charges. Samantha Thompson was pulled over for speeding on the highway in Crook County, following which methamphetamine was discovered in the vehicle.

On November 24, 2021, at 7:44 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was patrolling U.S.14 when he reports observing a vehicle traveling at 84 mph in a 70 mph zone. He conducted a traffic stop, during which he reports recognizing the driver and passenger from a previous stop, when he had found the driver had a suspended license.

The K-9 unit from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office returned a positive alert on the vehicle. The passenger, Samantha Thompson, was asked to exit the vehicle to allow a probable cause search.

During that search, items recovered included a clear plastic bag with a white residue, a glass bottle containing white crystal, a green leafy substance, a clear glass pipe containing white residue, several needles with one containing a dark red substance and a homemade pipe containing white residue.

Thompson was found to be on probation out of Gillette for a drug-related offense and to have two prior convictions for possession of controlled substances. The evidence was processed at the Sundance Highway Patrol Office, with presumptive positives for methamphetamine and marijuana.

Thompson was charged with one felony count of possession of methamphetamine in liquid form and a misdemeanor count of possession of methamphetamine in crystal form.

She pled guilty to the misdemeanor and Judge Matthew F.G. Castano sentenced her to 365 days of incarceration and a $300 fine. The incarceration will be suspended pending successful completion of one year of supervised probation.