Raymond Dishno and defense attorney Diane Kay-Hougaboom as they hear the jury's guilty verdict for cocaine possession Friday in Delta County Circuit Court in Escanaba. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press photo)

ESCANABA – A jury Friday found an Escanaba man considered a habitual offender guilty of having cocaine during a traffic stop in November.

Raymond Keith Dishno was convicted of possessing less than 25 grams of the controlled substance cocaine after a two-day trial in Delta County Circuit Court. It was Dishno’s fourth offense, according to the criminal complaint.

The charge stems from a traffic stop and search of Dishno’s vehicle at about 12:47 a.m. Nov. 26 in the 1200 block of Stephenson Avenue in Escanaba.

Escanaba Public Safety Officers Aaron Young and Mitchell Peterson did the search.

Delta County Prosecutor Lauren Wickman presented multiple videos at trial showing Young’s bodycam footage during the traffic stop. Because of technical difficulties and an outdated in-car camera system, Young’s bodycam did not activate until just after he and his partner pulled Dishno over.

Young said they made the stop because Dishno’s vehicle had an inoperable third brake light. Both officers approached on each side of the vehicle, Young on the driver’s side. He also noticed the driver’s side mirror was faded and needed to be fixed.

Upon initial contact, Dishno told Young he had a small black zipper case that contained legal marijuana.

Dishno wanted to ensure that if Young ran his K-9 partner, Enzo, on the vehicle that the dog was not trained to alert on marijuana. Young later testified that K-9 Enzo is not trained on marijuana but can detect methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA, or Ecstasy.

After initial contact and further discussion with PSO Peterson, Young asked Dishno for consent to search the vehicle. Dishno said no.

When Young asked Dishno if he could look inside the black bag, Dishno again said no, adding, “Then I’m consenting to a search. I told you what’s in here.”

Young had Dishno exit the vehicle before bringing in K-9 Enzo to go over the exterior, with the dog signaling it detected narcotics, Young testified.

A subsequent search of Dishno’s black bag turned up a small Ziploc-style bag that contained a white powder residue, plus loose leaf marijuana, a marijuana pipe and some marijuana joints, Young testified.

Young did a field test on the residue that indicated cocaine. The residue would later test positive for cocaine at the Michigan State Police Forensic Lab, according to Taylor Sharp, a MSP forensic scientist.

On the second day of trial, Dishno testified under questioning by defense attorney Diane Kay-Hougaboom that he did give his employees — or his “helpers” — in his home remodeling and construction business rides to jobs, as many did not have other transportation options. Dishno also mentioned a previous worker from spring 2024 who he terminated for substance use.

But it was noted that Dishno was the sole occupant and registered owner of the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. When Young asked Dishno if anyone else had been in his vehicle, Dishno answered, “Not that I’m aware of.”

It took the jury less than two hours to reach a verdict Friday.

Dishno will be sentenced Nov. 10. While the controlled substances felony charge carries a sentence of up to four years in prison or a $25,000 fine, Dishno is facing up to 15 years as a habitual offender.