Three Sentenced in Sawyer County Marijuana Case

Three individuals have been sentenced in a Sawyer County marijuana case from January 2018 in which over 1,000 grams of marijuana were seized.

DrydenWire.com reported earlier this year that charges had been filed against Lynn Begay, Alexander Gillespie and Alexander Gillespie, III stemming from the execution of a search warrant at the residence of Begay and Gillespie.

Investigating officers seized more than 1,000 grams (more than 2 lbs.) of marijuana during the search warrant along with scales, a vacuum sealer, numerous marijuana pipes, and marijuana containers.

According to online circuit court records, at a hearing on June 19, 2018 Gillespie, III entered a No Contest Plea to his charge of Class G Felony Possess w/Intent THC (>1000-2500 grams). A second charge of Class I Felony Maintain Drug Trafficking Place was dismissed but read in.

The Court found Gillespie, III guilty and ordered a withheld sentence: 4 years of probation with 30 days of conditional jail time. He was also ordered to pay over $1,000 in costs.

Begay and Gillespie were previously sentenced in April 2018; the Court also accepted their pleas of No Contest to their charges of Class G Felony Possess w/Intent THC (>1000-2500 grams) and found them guilty. Their other charges were dismissed by the Court.

They also each received a withheld sentence: 4 years of probation, with 30 days of conditional jail time and also were each ordered to pay over $1,000 in costs. In addition, the Court ordered them to undergo an Alcohol and Other Drug Assessment and follow-through with recommendations.

Lynn Begay

Alexander Gillespie, III

Alexander Gillespie

**Original Post**

Sawyer County Search Warrant Results In Over 1,000 Grams of Marijuana Seized

Sawyer County law enforcement executed a search warrant on January 17, 2018 that has resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 grams of marijuana and felony charges filed multiple people.

A criminal complaint filed in Sawyer County Circuit Court against Hayward woman, Lynn Begay, states that confidential informants assisted Sawyer County law enforcement with controlled buys of methamphetamine and marijuana from more than one residence in Sawyer County throughout the first weeks of January 2018. One  result of this investigation was that law enforcement obtained a search warrant the residence of Lynn Begay and Alexander Gillespie (Jr.) on County Highway NN.

No one answered the door when officers announced themselves, so the door to the house was breached. Inside the residence, officers found Alexander Gillespie, III, the son of Begay and Gillespie (Jr.). Begay & Gillespie (Jr.) were not in the residence at the time.

Although Gillespie, III initially told officers that he didn’t want to talk about why they were there searching the residence, the criminal complaint filed against Begay goes on to state that Gillespie, III allegedly did tell officers that he knew that his father and Begay had been selling marijuana out of the home and that starting in December 2017, he had completed sales of marijuana from the residence when Begay and his father were not home.

According to the criminal complaint, Gillespie, III also told officers that they might find marijuana in the basement of the residence because he had seen his father bringing bags of marijuana from the basement, but that he didn’t know exactly where it was stored. He allegedly also told officers that they would find marijuana in his father’s bedroom.

Ultimately, officers located over 1,000 grams (more than 2 lbs) of marijuana in the residence, 2 digital scales, a Ziploc vacuum sealer with vacuum sealer bags, numerous marijuana pipes and marijuana containers.

During the course of the execution of the search warrant, Lynn Begay called Gillespie, III’s phone, and after he confirmed that it was fine for an officer to answer the phone, an officer spoke to Begay and explained what was happening.

The criminal complaint goes on to state that Begay allegedly told the officer that she had made the decision to start selling marijuana as she was out of a job and needed money. She also told the officer that Alexander (Gillespie, III’s father), used marijuana for medical reasons. Begay also allegedly told the officer that she wished to cooperate and would meet with the officer for an interview at a later time.

Online circuit court records show that criminal charges have been filed in Sawyer County Circuit Court against all 3.

Begay is charged with Class G Felony Possession with Intent to Deliver THC (Marijuana) (1,000 - 2,500 Grams), Class I Felony Manufacture/Deliver THC (Marijuana) (<=200 Grams), and Class I Felony Maintain Drug Trafficking Place. She faces a possible maximum total of 17 years imprisonment,  if convicted of all 3 crimes as charged.

Alexander Gillespie (Jr.) and Alexander Gillespie, III are each facing charges of Class G Felony Possess with Intent to Deliver THC (Marijuana) (1,000 - 2,500 Grams), and Class I Felony Maintain Drug Trafficking Place. If convicted of the crimes as charged, they could each face a possible maximum total of 7 years of imprisonment, $20,000 in fines, or both.

Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.