Colfax man accused of possessing 4 pounds of methamphetamine scheduled for arraignment
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
EAU CLAIRE — A 30-year-old Colfax man who allegedly possessed 4.23 pounds of methamphetamine and for whom bail was set at $100,000 cash has waived a preliminary hearing and is scheduled for arraignment in January.
Dalton D. Clayton of county Highway N, Colfax, appeared in Eau Claire County Circuit court via Zoom from the Jackson Correctional Facility on October 17 for a preliminary hearing before Judge Jon M. Theisen.
Attorney Matthew Krische appeared in court for Clayton.
Clayton is charged with one felony count of possession of methamphetamine in an amount greater than 50 grams with a modifier of a second and subsequent offense and as a repeat offender; one felony count of possession of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) as a second or subsequent offense and as a repeat offender; and one misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and as a repeat offender.
The defendant waived his right to appear in person and also waived his right to a preliminary hearing, according to on-line court records.
Judge Theisen accepted Dalton’s waiver of the preliminary hearing and scheduled an arraignment hearing for January 12.
At an arraignment hearing, a defendant can enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
The amount of methamphetamine discovered is reportedly one of the largest drug seizures by the West Central Drug Task Force.
According to the Eau Claire Police Department’s Facebook page on a post dated February 27, 2023, a West Central Drug Task Force investigation recently “led to a traffic stop in which almost five pounds of methamphetamine was seized by investigators.”
The methamphetamine had a street value of approximately $118,000, representing one of the largest drug seizures in the history of the West Central Drug Task Force, according to the Facebook post.
According to news reports quoting the criminal complaint, investigators received information from an anonymous source that Clayton was in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine.
When a traffic stop was conducted, investigators found a backpack in the vehicle that contained three bags of a white crystalline substance.
Investigators later said Clayton was in possession of nearly 1,919 grams of methamphetamine, according to news reports.
The 1,919 grams of methamphetamine equals 4.23 pounds.
Possession of methamphetamine in an amount greater than 50 grams is a Class C felony that carries a possible penalty, upon conviction, of a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to 40 years in prison.
Felony possession of THC is a Class I felony that carries a possible penalty, upon conviction, of a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to three years and six months.
