Colorado pair face drug, weapons charges in Deuel County

A Wednesday traffic stop resulted in the arrest of two Colorado individuals on felony drug and weapons charges in Deuel County.

Adam Tuttle, 24, and Laura Goldmann, 23, no address listed, have already appeared for presentment on four charges each: Class II felony possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and Class II possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, along with two Class IV counts of possession of a controlled substance, more than a pound; and possession of a controlled substance without tax stamps.

The two were stopped by Nebraska State Patrol Wednesday morning along Interstate 76 at the merge of I-80. During the stop, an NSP trooper detected the odor of marijuana on the driver, Tuttle.

An investigation ensued, and it was determined both Tuttle and his passenger, Goldmann, had been using marijuana.

A search of the front of the vehicle by authorities revealed paraphernalia, along with marijuana and an expandable baton. Also recovered were ammunition and a pump shotgun.

Authorities also searched the rear of the vehicle, where a backpack and duffle bag were find. Both contained six large packages of marijuana wrapped in plastic layers, heat-sealed packages and duct tape.

Both Tuttle and Goldmann were arrested. A further search of the vehicle revealed an additional five packages of marijuana that were concealed under the trunk deck around the spare tire. Also found were numerous documents, receipts, payments, product information and medical marijuana manifests for a medical marijuana supplier from the Denver area. Approximate weight of the marijuana was 3.4 pounds, and the substance was field-tested positive as marijuana.

Goldmann was booked into Garden County Jail, where she later posted $250,000 bond, or 10 percent; a bond reduction hearing was held for Tuttle today in Cheyenne County Court, and was reduced from $500,000 to $250,000.

Tuttle remains in Cheyenne County Jail in lieu of the reduced bond.

Both have preliminary hearings set for 1:30 p.m. March 5 in Cheyenne County Court.