Wax On, Wax Off

Traffic Stop Leads to Felony Drug Bust

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – A traffic stop on the evening of Feb. 15 led to the arrest of a 43-year-old Houston County man on a felony drug charges.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper Kody Woolley observed a white Toyota Tundra pickup “… travelling north bound on State Highway 19, near mile post 386, and driving on the improved shoulder.”

The DPS trooper initiated a traffic stop and when Woolley made contact with the driver – identified as Christopher Byron Sutton – he smelled “… a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.”

Sutton was asked to exit the vehicle and after he did, he informed the law enforcement official he had a bag of marijuana in his truck, according to the affidavit.

“I (Woolley) conducted a pat down for weapons on Mr. Sutton. I removed a rubber capsule containing a yellow wax from inside Mr. Sutton’s waistband. Mr. Sutton told me it was THC-Wax,” the affidavit reported.

Sutton was arrested on the scene and placed in the trooper’s patrol unit while Woolley conducted a search of the truck.

Woolley’s search of the vehicle yielded a bag of marijuana, three glass and metal capsules containing a yellowish oil – believed to be THC oil – as well as an electronic device used to smoke marijuana.

Following the vehicle search, Sutton was transported to the Houston County Jail where he was booked into custody on charges of: possession of a controlled substance, penalty group two; possession of marijuana; and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

The possession of a controlled substance charge is considered a second degree felony.

According to Section 12.33 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

The total bond on the three charges was $5,500. The bond was posted and Sutton was released, pending trial.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].