Christopher K. Sherrod Sentenced For Drug Violations

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on February 13, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, Christopher Kyle Sherrod was sentenced to 200 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. Sherrod was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Whittaker, the government stated that on or about May 1, 2013, in Wibaux County, in the State and District of Montana, the defendant, CHRISTOPHER KYLE SHERROD, knowingly and unlawfully possessed, with the intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

On May 1, 2013, Montana Highway Patrol ("MHP") was patrolling Interstate 94 in Wibaux County, Montana. The MHP Trooper witnessed two passenger cars coming toward him

One car was passing the other car, and the passing car appeared to be speeding above the posted speed limit of 75 mph. The trooper initiated his radar unit when the passing car was past the overtaken vehicle and confirmed a speed of 82 mph in a 75 mph zone. The trooper turned on the speeding vehicle and followed it eastbound. As the trooper approached the car, he noted its rear bumper and rear quarter panel to have damage.

The trooper stopped the car and noted there was one only male occupant and that it was a rental car. He identified the driver by his Oregon driver's license as Christopher Kyle Sherrod. Sherrod told the trooper that he was a felon out of Oregon. The trooper observed that the vehicle had no luggage and was very clean. He asked Sherrod about the damage to the vehicle as it appeared to be very recent damage. Sherrod told the trooper that he was run into by a semi-truck around Bozeman, Montana, but that he did not want to report the crash until he got to his final destination.

Sherrod told the trooper that he was on the rental agreement with a friend of his who rented the car. But, when the trooper looked at the rental agreement Sherrod's name was not listed. The trooper also observed that the vehicle was rented from Portland, Oregon, on April 15, 2013, and was supposed to be returned on April 19, 2013. Furthermore, the rental agreement leased the vehicle to a John Kill, and restricted the vehicle's operation to only Washington and Oregon.

The trooper observed that Sherrod was very nervous during the traffic stop. In fact, while outside the trooper's vehicle, Sherrod became so nervous that he fainted and passed out beside the car; aid was rendered to Sherrod. Sometime thereafter, the trooper asked Sherrod for consent to search the car, but Sherrod refused.

The trooper learned that Sherrod was on parole/probation in Oregon. As such, he contacted Sherrod's Parole Officer about his trip, his presence in Montana, and his contact with law enforcement. The Parole Officer out of Oregon, requested Sherrod be taken into custody and requested a nationwide warrant for Sherrod's arrest for violating the terms of his parole by being in Montana.

Officers impounded the rental vehicle and obtained consent to search the car from the rental company so as to remove any belongings and return the car to the rental company. Upon doing so, officers found a black gym bag in the car. They also found some other suspicious items including a zip lock bag containing smaller zip lock bags in the glove box.

Officers then obtained a state search warrant for Sherrod's gym bag. A search of the bag revealed a plastic container holding approximately 1 lb. of suspected methamphetamine. Officers also found a Hi Point .40 caliber pistol in Sherrod's bag.

The DEA laboratory tested the suspected methamphetamine and determined that there was 334.1 grams of actual/pure methamphetamine which had been recovered from Sherrod's bag.