A Riverton man arrested after a traffic stop on Highway 287 admitted to one of the two crimes charged against him Tuesday in Albany County District Court.

Lynn Ray Brown, Jr., 21, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance. In exchange for his guilty plea, the state will recommend Brown be given first-offender treatment.

First-offender status -- also known as deferred prosecution -- would mean court proceedings stop just shy of a conviction. Brown would still plead guilty, and then serve up to five years of probation. Should he complete his probation without any violations, the matter would be dropped.

Judge Jeffrey Donnell said he would consider the first-offender recommendation, but noted that such treatment is exceedingly rare.

Brown was arrested April 22 after an Albany County Sheriff's deputy noticed the vehicle Brown was traveling in had no license plate light.

The deputy stopped a silver Chevrolet TrailBlazer just before 11:15 p.m. near milepost 403. When the deputy approached the passenger side of the vehicle and asked for the driver's license and registration, the deputy reportedly noticed marijuana all over the driver's black pants. The affidavit says the driver brushed off the marijuana as the deputy moved to the driver's side door.

Court documents say that when asked, the driver told the deputy there was only one "loaded bowl" in the car and that he could hand it to the deputy. The deputy said he would find the pipe during a search of the vehicle, and the driver insisted on handing the pipe to the deputy. Court documents say a female in the back seat pleaded for the deputy to give the group a warning and send them on their way.

A search of the vehicle revealed marijuana weighing 604 grams including packaging as well as a pipe containing burnt and raw marijuana, according to the affidavit.

According to court documents, Brown told the deputy that he and the driver each bought four ounces of marijuana for $150 per ounce while in Colorado for the April 20 "holiday."

Brown remains free on $7,500 signature bond pending sentencing. A hearing date will be set once the presentence investigation is complete.

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