Man Charged With Pot Possession Receives Probation

A man who admitted to bringing marijuana into Wyoming in March will avoid prison as long as he complies with his probation terms.

Brandon Bamond, 35, was sentenced to three years of supervised probation as well as a $2,500 fine Tuesday in Albany County District Court.

Judge Jeffrey Donnell ordered Bamond to complete outpatient treatment and to complete his GED within the next 12 months.

Bamond was stopped by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper for speeding in March. The trooper noticed a strong smell of air freshener and became suspicious after Bamond and his passenger couldn’t produce vehicle registration and gave conflicting stories. Bamond said there were no drugs in the vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe. The vehicle was searched and a K-9 unit was deployed, which alerted to the driver’s side door. The trooper found a suit case containing marijuana during the initial search. During the vehicle inventory three more suitcases containing marijuana were discovered.

Donnell told Bamond that his case was a ‘close call’.

“In cases like these I like to give the defendant the benefit of the doubt. That’s the hard part for me; that’s a big pill to swallow. Now the hard part begins for you,” Donnell said.

Donnell said Bamond had earned jail time.

“Get it right, Mr. Bamond. You got a break today that you will not see again.”