Police: Local man arrested for felony marijuana possession following traffic stop

POCATELLO — A 38-year-old local man was recently arrested after police say he was found in possession of over three ounces of marijuana following a traffic stop.

Zane Kay Boeckholder, of Pocatello, has been charged with felony possession of marijuana following the incident, which unfolded on Friday night, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal recently obtained.

Pocatello police initiated a traffic stop on a gray 2020 Kia Optima in the area of North Ninth Avenue and East Center Street around 9:20 p.m. Friday because the vehicles registration was expired and identified Boeckholder as the driver of the vehicle, the police report says.

While officers were speaking with Boeckholder, they observed two marijuana blunts in the center console cup holders and could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car, police said.

There was a passenger in the vehicle, so officers asked Boeckholder who the marijuana belonged to and he admitted that it was his, said police, adding that when Boeckholder was asked how much marijuana was in the car he replied with, “a lot.”

Officers detained Boeckholder and transported the marijuana to the Pocatello Police Department where it returned a weight of 3.12 ounces, which constitutes a felony amount in the state of Idaho.

Boeckholder was then charged, arrested and booked inside the Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.

He appeared in front of 6th District Magistrate Judge David Hooste for an arraignment hearing on Monday, during which Boeckholder was ordered to be released from jail on his own recognizance.

Boeckholder is due back in court on Sept. 3 for a preliminary hearing, during which prosecutors will attempt to prove there is enough evidence against him to elevate the case from the magistrate to district court level for trial.

If convicted of the felony marijuana charge, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.