Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
A Newcastle man has appealed his sentence on a felony charge of possession after illegal substances were found in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Crook County.
On the morning of January 3, 2022, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper noticed a vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit on Highway 16. The trooper reports activating his lights to initiate a traffic stop and the vehicle slowed, but did not immediately pull over.
After around half a mile, the vehicle pulled over; the trooper recognized it from previous contact. The trooper identified the driver as David Garrison.
Through his knowledge of Garrison’s previous contacts with law enforcement, he states in his report that he knew Garrison to be an abuser of controlled substances, including marijuana and meth.
A K-9 unit alerted to the odor of a controlled substance in Garrison’s vehicle. The trooper reports searching the vehicle and locating a metal pipe with burnt marijuana residue, a case containing a glass pipe with white residue and assorted items including containers of suspected marijuana and meth, a digital scale and numerous baggies.
The items recovered from the vehicle were later weighed and the controlled substances were recorded as approximately 14 grams of marijuana and 13.5 grams of meth.
Garrison was originally charged with three felony counts: possession of meth with intent to deliver, possession of meth and possession of marijuana, third or subsequent offense (with three known prior convictions in Wyoming and South Dakota since 2014.)
Garrison pled guilty to one count of possession of marijuana. He was sentenced by Judge Stuart S. Healy III to between one and three years in a state penal institution and a fine of $500.
On December 9, his court-appointed counsel, Christopher Goetz, filed a motion to proceed with an appeal “in forma pauperis”. This Latin term translates to mean, “in the manner of a pauper” and, in legal terms, entitles a person who does not have the funds to pursue a criminal defense to a waiver of normal costs.
