MITCHELL — A second man charged after nearly 125 pounds of marijuana was seized during a traffic stop west of Mitchell has pleaded guilty.
Michael Lever, 34, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty Tuesday, July 14, in Davison County Circuit Court to a Class 3 felony charge of possession with intent to distribute one pound or more of marijuana.
ADVERTISEMENT
Under a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed a Class 3 felony charge of possession of more than 10 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, a Class 5 felony charge of possession of THC vape cartridges and a Class 2 misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judge Chris Giles ordered a presentence investigation. Lever is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
Lever was arrested after a Sept. 24, 2025, traffic stop on Interstate 90 near mile marker 325, west of Mitchell. According to court documents, a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper stopped a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban after clocking it at 82 mph in an 80 mph zone.
Court records state the trooper smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and later searched it after neither Lever nor passenger Marty Vonderrick Kyles had a medical marijuana card recognized in South Dakota.
Officers recovered approximately 1,996 ounces — about 125 pounds — of marijuana packaged in heat-sealed bags, along with five THC vape cartridges and drug paraphernalia, according to court documents.
Kyles was sentenced in June to 10 years in prison, with six years suspended, leaving four years to serve.
A Class 3 felony in South Dakota is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.