Iowa man sentenced for possession with intent to deliver

An Iowa man has received a split 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 after being pulled over for speeding on Hwy 212.

On December 17, 2020, at around 5:40 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle observed to be speeding. The trooper reports 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 was identified as Dontaye Burton, who was sentenced a few weeks ago on the same felony charge. Burton 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 and the passenger, Keith Gates, had smoked marijuana while in Seattle but denied there was any contraband in the vehicle.

The trooper returned to the vehicle to speak to Gates, who he observed to be on a video call with a female. The trooper asked Gates to hang up the phone and leave it in the vehicle, which Gates allegedly said he did not feel comfortable with.

The trooper informed Gates that he could smell marijuana, to which Gates allegedly responded that they had smoked in Washington. Gates was placed in the cage of the patrol car and the trooper conducted a vehicle search.

As Gates was being handcuffed, he allegedly advised there were some jars of marijuana in the vehicle. According to the trooper’s report, a search 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.

Gates pled guilty to one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Judge Thomas W. Rumpke sentenced him to between five and seven years in a state penal institution, with all but 30 days to be suspended.

Gates will serve the 30 days in the Crook County Detention Center with credit for three days already served. The remainder is suspended pending successful completion of three years of supervised probation.