Michael Scates, aged 44 and a resident of Madison, entered a no contest plea on Tuesday afternoon in Iowa County Court to charges of possession with intent to deliver 5.0 ounces of methamphetamine (a Class C Felony) and 26 grams of cocaine (a Class D Felony), as well as party to a crime for both counts. Mr. Scates was represented by his attorney, Michael Short. Assistant District Attorney Curtis Johnson appeared on behalf of the State of Wisconsin, with the Honorable Judge Matthew Allen presiding. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., contingent upon a pre-sentence investigation requested by Attorney Short and to be conducted by the Department of Justice.
Scates freely, willingly, knowledgeably and intelligently entered into the plea agreement and joint recommendation by both parties. Scates was the passenger in a car driven by Shellie McCane from Manchester, Iowa. According to the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department, deputies, along with the help of a K9, conducted a traffic stop on US Highway 151 near Mineral Point around 9:15 p.m. on January 28, 2025.
During the traffic stop, authorities seized a ‘significant amount’ of illegal drugs and paraphernalia. In the plea agreement, dismissed were four additional charges, a Felony I count of possession with intent to deliver less than 200 grams of THC, a Felony I count of possession of narcotic drugs, a misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
In Wisconsin, a Class C Felony is punishable by up to 40 years in state prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, or both. A Class D Felony in Wisconsin is punishable by up to 25 years in state prison and fines up to $100,000.
McCane, the driver of the vehicle, has a status conference in Iowa County Court on April 28. She is currently being held in Iowa County Jail on a $40,000 cash bond.