Man given split sentence on drug charges after Beulah crash

David Gray of South Dakota has been given a split sentence for possession with intent to deliver after marijuana and TCH was found in his vehicle when it crashed into the Stateline Station in Beulah.

On the morning of August 12, 2021, a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched in response to reports that a blue vehicle had crashed in Beulah. No injuries had been reported.

The deputy reported arriving to find five people outside the building and the vehicle parked in a parking sport. When the deputy asked who had been driving, he was allegedly directed to a 15-year-old female.

The deputy reviewed the insurance information of the vehicle owner, David Gray, and then approached the vehicle. As he did so, he allegedly detected the strong odor of suspected raw marijuana.

The deputy reported that he advised Gray, his female passenger and the 15-year-old female to sit on the sidewalk and requested a back-up officer. He then conducted a search of all three and separated them.

The deputy then performed a search of the vehicle with the assistance of a second deputy. He allegedly located multiple loose THC vape pen cartridges and marijuana cigarette butts, as well as a bag belonging to Gray containing three large black plastic bags, in each of which was a large amount of suspected marijuana, and a tote containing multiple plastic baggies of suspected marijuana.

The deputy also allegedly located a small black case containing three rubber containers of wax substance that was consistent with marijuana wax, as well as a container of edible THC in the form of “Nutty Balls.”

In the front of the vehicle, the deputy allegedly located a bag containing multiple stacks of dollar bills separated by paper clips, as well as additional cash. The total cash counted was $666.

Gray was charged with felony counts of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana and possession of THC, third or subsequent offense (with known convictions in South Dakota in 2005. He pled guilty to a felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Judge Stuart S. Healy III sentenced him to between four and six years of incarceration, all but 90 days of which is to be suspended pending successful completion of supervised probation.

Gray was also given a $1000 fine.