A bad license plate lands two people in jail for drugs and a gun

| by Travis Uresk | May 31^st, 2026 |

Vernal, Utah (5/29/26)—Deputy Leishman stopped a vehicle near 400 N on Vernal Avenue after the Colorado license plate didn’t return to a vehicle.

A records check of the vehicle VIN showed that the vehicle registration had expired and that there was no insurance associated with it. It also showed that Holly's driver's license was suspended in Colorado.

The driver was identified as 40-year-old Holly Lynn Acord, and 34-year-old Ty Pierre Morgan was sitting in the front passenger seat.

During the stop, K9 Deputy Oldham deployed his canine around the exterior of the vehicle. The K9 positively alerted to the odor of illegal drugs, which allowed the deputies probable cause to search the vehicle.

During the search, Deputy Pratt located a handgun concealed beneath clothing on the front passenger seat in the exact area where Ty was sitting. Based on the location of the firearm, Ty had immediate access to and control over the handgun while seated in the vehicle. The handgun magazine consistent with the firearm recovered from inside the vehicle was located on Holly's person.

They also found a black bag behind the driver's seat containing a large quantity of a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Also located inside the same black bag was a credit card bearing Holly Accord's name, a female hair brush, and a red tooter straw commonly used to ingest narcotics.

After being detained, Ty Morgan admitted to Deputy Pratt that the handgun recovered from the front passenger seat belonged to him. Deputies located an additional plastic baggie containing a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine on Ty Morgan's person.

Ty Morgan was booked into Uintah County Jail on the offenses of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.

Holly Accord is being booked into Uintah County Jail for the offenses of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating an unregistered vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.