Truck driver granted suspended sentence in marijuana case

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February 3, 2012

news@joplinglobe.com The Joplin Globe Fri Feb 03, 2012, 10:48 PM CST

A truck driver from Illinois who was caught hauling 457 pounds of marijuana on Interstate 44 received a suspended sentence this week in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Thomas E. Watkins, 46, of Madison, Ill., initially was charged with second-degree trafficking in drugs following his arrest May 20, 2009, by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A state commercial vehicle inspector stopped Watkins’ truck near the 16-mile marker of I-44 in Jasper County for a compliance check, and an ensuing search of the vehicle turned up the marijuana in several duffel bags in the sleeper of the truck.

Watkins pleaded guilty Sept. 28 of last year to a reduced charge of possession with intent to deliver in a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office that capped the prison time he might receive at no more than 15 years.

Circuit Judge David Dally assessed the defendant 15 years at his sentencing hearing Monday but suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on supervised probation instead for five years.

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Truck driver granted suspended sentence in marijuana case

At the request of Republican lawmakers, taxpayers are funding a 24-hour security camera to watch over a Rush Limbaugh bust in the Missouri Capitol. Do you think this is needed?

At the request of Republican lawmakers, taxpayers are funding a 24-hour security camera to watch over a Rush Limbaugh bust in the Missouri Capitol. Do you think this is needed?

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