Wyoming News Briefs

Man sentenced for child sex abuse

CHEYENNE (WNE) — A man convicted of having sexual contact with two children in his care received prison time Tuesday during a sentencing hearing in Laramie County District Court.

Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell sentenced Billy Mike Carrera to two concurrent terms of five to 12 years in prison, with 40 days of credit for time served. Campbell added that, if Carrera makes parole, he should be supervised for “the longest period of time.” 

Carrera pleaded guilty, pursuant to an Alford plea in June, to two counts of felony second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, position of authority and two counts of felony second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, guardian of victim. 

An Alford plea allows defendants to accept the consequences of a guilty plea without having to admit guilt, while also admitting the prosecution could likely prove the charges against them in a jury trial. 

Additional charges – five counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor (position of authority) and one count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor (guardian of victim) – were dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement. 

The state had agreed to cap its sentencing argument at 10 to 12 years in prison. 

Gordon signs only new law from Wyoming Legislature’s special vaccine mandate session

JACKSON (WNE) — Gov. Mark Gordon has signed the sole bill to emerge from the Wyoming Legislature’s special session intended to fight the Biden administration’s federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The governor put pen to paper as he engages in a number of lawsuits against various aspects of the federal mandate: one against requirements on federal contractors and contracted employees, one against requiring vaccines in private businesses with more than 100 employees, and one against an edict that would generally require health care workers to get inoculated.

Gordon’s office was quick to highlight the legal challenges his administration is already pursuing in a Friday press release, and he was critical of the cost of the special session: $233,000.

“This bill confirms the Legislature’s support for the executive branch’s previously-expressed determination to fight federal overreach in the courts,” Gordon said in the press release. “I thank the Legislature for recognizing their distinct constitutional responsibility as appropriators in forwarding resources to support this endeavor.”

House Bill 1002, which Gordon signed, appropriates $4 million for legal challenges to federal vaccine mandates and includes a strongly worded resolution citing the legal rights of Wyoming to defy the mandate.

It also states, “no public entity shall enforce any mandate or standard of the federal government, whether emergency, temporary or permanent, that requires an employer to ensure or mandate that an employee shall receive a COVID-19 vaccination.” 

However, those provisions barring enforcement of the mandate are nullified once the federal mandate takes effect. Those provisions can, however, be enforced if a court puts a stay on the mandate or the mandate is repealed.

Man convicted of aggravated assault sentenced to at least 30 years in prison 

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 30-year-old Gillette man will spend 30 to 45 years in prison for beating another man over the head with a crowbar.

The sentence for Brennan Thomas Baker will be served consecutively with previous felony convictions of two three- to five-year sentences for two counts of burglary.

Baker was convicted by a jury in July of aggravated assault and battery.

A sentencing enhancement for being a habitual criminal was added to the charge, increasing the possible prison time from a maximum of 10 years to up to 50 years.

Baker was considered a habitual criminal because the aggravated assault and battery is a violent felony and because he had two other felony convictions for burglary in Campbell County from 2019 cases.

A past relationship with a woman was the reason the victim thought Baker attacked him in a parking lot on South Douglas Highway on Oct. 11. 

A surveillance video shows Baker waiting near the coffee shop in his car for the man to leave the shop.

When the man left and headed toward his van in the parking lot, Baker drove toward him, got out and headed at him. The man got into his van, and the video showed Baker coming up to the vehicle trying to hide something in his right hand, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The man got out of the van and Baker reportedly raised the crowbar with both hands and swung it at the man, narrowly missing his head but hitting his arms, which the man had raised defensively. 

Baker swung at him at least five more times as the man tried to defend himself until he was able to grab the crowbar and yank it from Baker.

Wyoming has highest rate of nursing home COVID

CHEYENNE (WNE) — After three months of low numbers of nursing home resident COVID-19 cases and deaths in Wyoming, things have taken a turn for the worse through the end of September and most of October, according to the latest AARP COVID-19 Nursing Home Dashboard. 

Wyoming’s 8.49 COVID-19 cases per 100 nursing home residents is far and away the highest in the country and nearly double the rate of any other state in the Union. 

Montana has the nation’s second-highest rate at 6.94 cases per 100 residents. 

In all, there were 197 reported cases of COVID-19 among residents of Wyoming nursing homes from mid-September through Oct. 17. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been more than 14,000 nursing home resident cases in the Cowboy State. 

Wyoming also has the second-highest rate of nursing home resident deaths due to COVID in the nation during the four-week period running from Sept. 20 through Oct. 17, with 1.53 deaths per 100 nursing home residents (27 deaths due to COVID-19 total over the same four-week period).

Montana has the nation’s highest rate at 1.72 COVID-19 deaths per 100 nursing home residents.

Montana and Wyoming are the only two states in the Union with a rate higher than 0.62 nursing home resident deaths per 100 residents attributed to COVID-19.

Almost $25K raised for Cheyenne teen killed in accident

CASPER (WNE) — Nearly $25,000 has been raised for the family of the Cheyenne teenager killed by a car last week. 

Makaili James Evans, 13, was crossing Western Hills Boulevard near McCormick Jr. High School around 7 a.m. on Nov. 5 when the driver of a Ford Escape hit him. 

Evans, a student at the middle school, was pronounced dead after being taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. 

As of Thursday morning, a GoFundMe campaign organized by a close friend of Evans’ family had raised $24,581 from 362 donations. 

According to the fundraiser page, Evans was a prankster who also loved camping, fishing, hiking, music and movies. He had recently started to take after his older brother, becoming interested in film and photography. He liked to spend time with his friends, often riding bikes.

“His joyful personality and pursuit to make his friends and family laugh and smile was his mission,” the description by organizer Reed Barrett reads. “There wasn’t a day that would go by where even the smallest interaction with Makaili wouldn’t lead to your biggest smile.” 

The money raised will go towards helping the Evans’ family with the memorial services, hospital bills and other unexpected expenses. 

Two other teenagers were also hit while crossing the street in Cheyenne on Monday, police said.

They were at the intersection of Windmill Road and East Pershing Boulevard near East High School. 

The driver of a GMC Acadia hit the 13-year-old and 15-year-old while they were trying to cross the street at the crosswalk. 

Wyoming gas prices fall by almost 5 cents

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Wyoming gas prices have fallen 4.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.41 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy.com's daily survey of 494 stations in Wyoming.

Gas prices in Wyoming are 2.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, and stand $1.28 per gallon higher than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Wyoming was priced at $2.83 per gallon Monday, while the most expensive was $3.99, a difference of $1.16 per gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.40 per gallon Monday. The national average is up 9.5 cents per gallon from a month ago, and stands $1.28 per gallon higher than a year ago.

Woman dies after car crashes into fireworks building

EVANSTON (WNE) — A tragic accident claimed the life of a longtime Evanston resident early on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 14.

Fidelina Saavedra, 66, was on her way to work when the car she was driving crashed into Phantom Fireworks on Overthrust Road.

A press release from the Evanston Police Department states officers responded to Phantom Fireworks at 7:14 Sunday morning after receiving a report that a vehicle had crashed into the building and smoke and fire were coming from the vehicle.

There were flames on the hood of the vehicle when officers arrived; however, they were able to locate one person inside and get her out for transport to Evanston Regional Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

According to the press release, an examination of the crash site showed that Saavedra’s vehicle had been traveling north on Overthrust Road prior to accelerating to a high rate of speed and leaving the roadway at the intersection of West Cheyenne Drive.

The vehicle then traveled across the open field and through the parking lot prior to hitting the Phantom Fireworks building.

The EPD release states the events leading up to the crash are still under investigation and the Wyoming Highway Patrol is assisting in that investigation.