Update: Sulfridge pleads guilty to marijuana possession

Police allegedly found these six marijuana plants during a safety check point Wednesday evening.

A routine check at a traffic safety checkpoint last Wednesday evening by sheriff’s deputies and a constable turned up marijuana plants and pills.

About 8 p.m. Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputies Joe Prewitt and Johnny Miller along with Third-District Constable Dorman Patrick Jr. were conducting traffic safety efforts near the Redbird Road Bridge.

A blue 1993 Ford Ranger pickup truck approached that police determined had expired tags. The driver, Austin Brooks, 20, of Williamsburg, was also determined to be operating a vehicle without insurance, according to a sheriff’s department release.

Police located a storage tote in the back seat that contained six plants believed to be marijuana, and Brooks allegedly had two pills in his pocket, according to the release.

According to his arrest citation, Brooks told police that the plants were his.

Police also allegedly found several pills wrapped in cellophane in the purse of Brooks’ passenger, Katelyn J. Sulfridge, 21, according to the release.

Police charged Brooks with cultivating marijuana more than five plants, illegal possession of a legend drug, no vehicle registration and failure to maintain vehicle insurance.

Police charged Sulfridge with third-degree possession of a controlled substance. She was released from jail about 5:35 a.m. Thursday.

During a hearing Monday morning in Whitley District Court, Brooks pleaded guilty to an amended charge of possession of marijuana in exchange for prosecutors recommending a 12-month jail sentence that was probated for two years.

Whitley District Judge Fred White also ordered Brooks to pay court costs.

As part of his plea agreement, the remaining charges were dismissed without prejudice.