Past Convictions Catch Up to Cheyenne Man During Traffic Stop

A Cheyenne man with a checkered past is facing a felony drug charge following a traffic stop in south central Cheyenne.

Stop Sign Violation Leads to Felony Drug Charge

According to a booking sheet, 59-year-old Joseph Lawrence Morehead was arrested at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, after police stopped him on Russell Avenue at East 9th Street for a stop sign violation and found drugs.

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It's alleged that Morehead possessed methamphetamine and was previously convicted of the same or similar offense on Nov. 20, 1986; Feb. 24, 1994; and May 31, 2018.

Morehead was booked into the Laramie County Detention Center and subsequently charged by information with possession of a controlled substance - third or subsequent offense, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, up to a $5,000 fine, or both.

He was also charged by citation alleging failure to stop at a stop sign. The bond amount on that is $135.

Initial Court Appearance

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Morehead was seen in Laramie County Circuit Court in front of Judge Antoinette Williams on the charges.

Williams appointed Morehead a public defender and set his preliminary hearing and arraignment for Friday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m.

Williams then asked for the state's position regarding bond.

"There's a little bit of concern, not just about his related priors to drugs, but a 2022 or 2023, some sort of meth/DUI related court interaction out of Cheyenne Municipal," the state said. "Then we see the driving behavior and still continued drugs."

"Accordingly, the state would be asking $3,000 cash plus two times a week drug testing," it added.

"He's currently on probation for a theft," Williams told the state.

Bond Set at $3K Cash

"The court will go ahead and set your bond at $3,000 cash," Williams told Morehead. "If you post that, I'll set your bond conditions."

Please remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.