Felon Found Sleeping at Rest Area Near Cheyenne With Drugs, Gun
A convicted Denver, Colorado felon is facing charges in Laramie County after a Wyoming Highway Patrol sergeant reportedly caught him with drugs and a gun.
According to a booking sheet, the sergeant was patrolling in Laramie County on Thursday, Jan. 30, when he spotted an SUV parked within the designated commercial and RV parking at the Southeast Wyoming Welcome Center south of Cheyenne.
Traffic Stop Leads to THC, Meth, and 9mm
The sergeant pulled behind the SUV and initiated a traffic stop, and when he approached the SUV, which was idling, he saw a man, later identified as 50-year-old Timothy Joshua Mattox, sleeping in the driver's seat.
The sergeant says he looked around for weapons before waking Mattox and saw several knives, knife sheaths, screwdrivers, and tools.
The sergeant then knocked on the window until Mattox was awake, informed him that the area was for commercial vehicles and RVs, and asked for his driver's license.
While Mattox was searching for his license, the sergeant says he spotted a THC container in the passenger seat, which Mattox confirmed was THC wax.
Mattox was asked to exit the SUV and patted down, and reportedly had 17.41 grams of methamphetamine in his right front pocket.
Mattox was handcuffed and Mirandized, and when the sergeant searched Mattox further he reportedly found a glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue in his left coat pocket.
The sergeant says Mattox informed him that the drugs were his, that there was a gun under the driver's seat, and that he was a convicted felon.
The sergeant conducted a probable cause search of the SUV and, in addition to the THC wax, reportedly found a THC vape pen weighing 19.91 grams and a Taurus 9mm pistol.
Mattox was taken to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and interviewed, and then taken to the Laramie County Detention Center without incident.
Mattox was subsequently charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and two misdemeanors, including possession of a controlled substance and non-violent felon in possession of a firearm.
Bond Set at $10K Cash
Mattox made his initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court on Monday, Feb. 3, during which his bond was set at $10,000 cash and his preliminary hearing was scheduled for Monday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m.
Please remember that all suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
32 States With Laws to Take Guns From Certain People
Gallery Credit: Canva