Kellogg man found guilty of drug charges

WALLACE –– A two-day trial returned four guilty verdicts for a Kellogg man facing numerous drug charges.  

On February 12, Kenton Isom, 39, of Kellogg was convicted of three felonies, including possession of fentanyl in various forms, possession of methamphetamine, attempted destruction or concealment of the controlled substances, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.  

The charges stemmed from an arrest that was made in January 2024, when, following a simple traffic stop, deputies were alerted to the presence of drugs by Shoshone K-9 Deputy Midnight inside a vehicle driven by Holly Burdett, where Isom was a passenger.  

According to Shoshone County Deputy Prosecutor Britney Jacobs, During the search, Isom and Burdett were removed from the vehicle and fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills, and methamphetamine were all located adjacent to where Isom was sitting, tucked between his seat and the center console. Isom also had other drug paraphernalia on him, including pieces of tinfoil concealed in his wallet.  

According to Jacobs, tinfoil is often used to assist in the ingestion of controlled substances, a fact of pertinence for the trial wherein Isom attempted to convince jurors he was not a drug user. 

Throughout the trial, both Isom and Burdett testified that the drugs did not belong to Isom but instead belonged to her. This testimony was in direct conflict with the statements given by the pair to law enforcement at the time of the search and subsequent arrest.  

“This change in story was not surprising to the State, given that Burdett’s statements could not be used against her and thus, she could freely fall on the sword for her boyfriend during his trial,” Jacobs said. “By highlighting the inconsistencies in Burdett and Isom’s testimony during trial, the jury was not convinced by their plot.”  

The jury returned their guilty verdicts just two hours after closing arguments.  

Isom’s sentencing is scheduled for April 14, where he faces up to seven years for the possession charges, and five years for the concealment charge.  

“The Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office would like to thank the jurors involved for dedicating their time to this civic duty, and to the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office for their continued efforts in prioritizing drug interdiction within the community,” Jacobs said.