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California Couple Guilty in 115-Pound Pot Bust

Officers seized 102 vacuum-packed bundles of marijuana from the trunk

By Associated Press

COLUMBUS – Two California residents have pleaded guilty to drug charges after being stopped on Interstate 90 in south-central Montana with 115 pounds of marijuana in their rental car.

Rick Franklin Voight, 37, and Dawn Delores Voight, 41, both of Hayfork, pleaded guilty on July 24 to criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, the Stillwater County News reported. Each also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

Under the plea agreement, both face a five-year commitment to the Department of Corrections, which could be served in prison, in boot camp, on parole or in a number of other corrections facilities. Three of those years would be suspended under the deal. Sentencing is set for Sept. 5.

They have been jailed in Yellowstone County since their arrests in April, after a Montana Highway Patrol trooper pulled them over for speeding. They appeared nervous and gave conflicting stories about their travel plans, officers said.

The trooper asked for assistance from the Stillwater County K9 unit and officers impounded the car after the dog, Jordy, alerted on it, court record said.

Officers seized 102 vacuum-packed bundles of marijuana from the trunk, charging documents said.

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is helping Stillwater County officers determine where the Voights were taking the marijuana.