Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Sentence imposed for marijuana smuggler who broke probation terms

A Washington man who was given a deferred sentence in 2016 after being caught smuggling marijuana through Crook County has appeared in court again after being accused of breaking the terms of his probation. Evan Rice has now been given a suspended sentence for the felony charge of possession with intent to deliver.

Rice was found guilty following an incident on March 11, 2016 when a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a vehicle traveling over the speed limit on I-90.

The occupants claimed to be traveling to Sturgis with a final destination of Kansas City. The trooper allegedly noticed a strong odor of marijuana from the driver, Rice, and signs of drug use.

The trooper was able to locate a black plastic tote in the trunk in which he observed several packages of suspected marijuana and marijuana edibles. pounds of marijuana in plant form, 600 grams of marijuana-infused caramel, 761 grams of marijuana candy-coated cereal, 227 grams of marijuana “butter” as well as butane hash oil and a smoking pipe.

Rice was found guilty and received a deferred sentence based on successful completion of five years of probation.

However, on May 21, 2020, an officer in Billings, Montana initiated a traffic stop on Rice’s vehicle and found he was displaying symptoms of being under the influence of a drug. According to the officer’s report, Rice admitted to having smoked marijuana the day before and meth on that day.

Rice was found to have violated two conditions of his probation: leaving his county of primary supervision without permission on June 11, 2020 and violating the law by being cited for driving under the influence of drugs in Montana on May 21, 2020.

Judge Matthew F.G. Castano imposed a sentence of between 30 and 60 months and a fine of $200. The sentence was suspended pending successful completion of a year of supervised probation.

 
 
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