A man and woman from Wisconsin are facing a felony drug charge after a Utah Highway Patrol trooper performed a traffic stop earlier this month and found a sizable amount of marijuana.
Gary Joseph Dacquisto, 22, of Milwaukee, and Kaycee Rachelle Peters, 20, of Glendale, are both charged with one count of third-degree felony possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. They made their initial appearances in 3rd District Court on Monday before Judge Robert Adkins.
Dacquisto and Peters were passengers in a vehicle the trooper stopped for tinted tail lights and following too closely the morning of Aug. 10 near Saddleback Boulevard on SR-36, according to the probable cause statement. Upon first contact with the vehicle, the trooper said he noticed the odor of marijuana.
The trooper obtained a positive identification on the marijuana from his narcotics K-9 and told the occupants he could smell the drugs.
Dacquisto, who was sitting in the back of the vehicle, handed the trooper paper with THC wax, which prompted a complete search of the vehicle. Approximately 20 pounds of marijuana were located in various bags in the trunk, as well as a vape device with Dacquisto’s name on it.
According to the trooper, 20 pounds of marijuana was a distributable amount and more than that for personal use. The probable cause statement said that much marijuana could make approximately 12,800 cigarette-sized joints, which would take the average single user more than 11 years to smoke.
Bail for Dacquisto and Peters was set for $10,000 each during their court appearances Monday and they were appointed a public defender. Both are expected back in 3rd District Court on Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.