Wyoming News Briefs

Gillette man charged with first-degree arson

GILLETTE (WNE) — A man accused of setting his trailer on fire and covering himself in bleach has been charged in circuit court with first-degree arson.

Andrew L. Boyer, 34, was charged Sept. 8 and his preliminary hearing in circuit court is scheduled for Dec. 14.

The incident began about 10 a.m. Aug. 2, when a trailer fire was reported in the 1600 block of Echeta Drive, where responders found Boyer’s trailer full of smoke.

Neighbors in a nearby lot told officers that Boyer had stopped by their home earlier asking to borrow a lighter.They saw him walk into his residence, let his dogs out then walk away.

About 20 minutes later, the neighbors smelled smoke, knocked on the door of Boyer’s trailer and called 911 when no one answered, according to court documents.

Employees of J.B. Auto Glass told police that a man had walked into their store with a small dog in hand asking to use the bathroom. The man, later identified as Boyer, eventually walked out of the bathroom covered in bleach, which was kept in the bathroom.

While firefighters worked on containing the fire, one fire investigator entered the trailer and found multiple areas where the fire had started and all four burners on the stove left on in the ignite position.

While police applied for a search warrant, Boyer arrived at the scene of the fire. He mentioned without being asked that he had been burned by bleach recently, according to court documents.

A first-degree arson conviction carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine.

Woman charged with first-degree murder of five-year-old child

KEMMERER (WNE) — Cheri Marler, 51, has been arrested after officers responded to her residence on Friday, Nov. 25, on a call regarding an unconscious five-year-old girl.

Sergeant Jake Walker located the child wounded and unresponsive on a couch in the living room, according to a press release from the Kemmerer Police Department.

Walker rendered first aid and called for an ambulance.

A criminal investigation then began after Marler allegedly told a story that did not align with the girl’s injuries.

EMS crews arrived and “took over life-saving measures that had been started by Sergeant Walker,” according to the press release.

The EMS personnel transported the child to South Lincoln Medical Center. After some time, she was airlifted to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

The girl succumbed to her injuries at approximately 9 a.m. on Nov. 26.

“As a result of this and the investigation that occurred after the initial call,” the release reads, “Marler was arrested and charged with murder in the first degree, and aggravated child abuse.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Rednour pleads not guilty to assault and battery

CODY (WNE) — The Cody man who was arrested and charged on Sept. 21 for the alleged assault and battery of his pregnant girlfriend pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Park County District Court on Nov. 15.

Travis William Rednour, 39, also pleaded not guilty to one count of interference with the making of an emergency call.

Rednour now faces a jury trial, which will be scheduled at a later date, but Judge Bill Simpson modified his bond so he can leave Park County for employment.

The alleged assault and battery occurred after Rednour’s girlfriend told him she was pregnant, the affidavit said.

The victim told police that Rednour shoved her, pulled her around by the hair on her head and slapped her across the face. She further told police that Rednour prevented her from calling 911 after the incident.

Rednour is currently out of Park County Detention Center, having posted a $30,000 cash bond.

His counsel, Timothy Blatt, requested that the court lift the travel restriction of the bond so his client could seek employment with True Oil in Wyoming and North Dakota.

Simpson modified Rednour’s bond conditions, allowing him to leave Park County but not Wyoming.

Barrasso spends Thanksgiving with Wyo. troops in Japan

CHEYENNE (WNE) — On Thanksgiving Day, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., shared dinner with Wyoming Marines and airmen serving in Okinawa, Japan. 

They’re attached to the 3rd (III) Marine Expeditionary Force and Air Force’s 18th Wing, according to a news release from Barrasso’s office. 

Barrasso visited with service members at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. 

“Our state is so grateful for the brave men and women from Wyoming who serve our country,” Barrasso said in the release. “Right now, we have service members from across Wyoming serving 16 time zones away in Okinawa, Japan. They’re face to face with China and North Korea every day. We are so proud of their service to protect America and our allies abroad. I made sure they knew that everyone at home is thinking of them during the holidays and awaiting their safe return home.” 

Barrasso sat down for Thanksgiving dinner with service members, toured Kadena Air Base and was briefed by military officials about operations in the Indo-Pacific.

Riverton man arrested for felony child abuse

RIVERTON (WNE) — A Riverton man was arrested on Monday after he allegedly assaulted 24-day-old twin infants. 

Police were called to Sage West at 4:20 p.m. on a report of an infant with a broken left leg and bruises and lacerations to her face. Department of Family Services workers were concerned about possible child abuse. 

When officers arrived, along with the reported injuries to the first infant, her twin sister was also found to have suffered a broken right leg, broken left arm, a fractured rib and a black eye. 

Both infants were life flighted to Utah for treatment. 

Anthony Long, 27, Riverton, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony child abuse. 

Under Wyoming state statute 6-2-503 (c), aggravated felony child abuse is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

COVID cases, deaths rise in Wyoming nursing homes

CASPER (WNE) — More of Wyoming’s nursing home residents are getting sick and dying from COVID-19, new figures released Wednesday by the AARP show. 

COVID cases occurred in state nursing homes at a rate of six per 100 residents during a four-week period that ended Oct. 23. 

That is the third-highest rate in the nation behind New Hampshire (10.12) and Maine (9.16). It’s also a slight increase over the previous four-week rate, which stood at 4.5, according to the AARP. 

Total cases for the four weeks ending Oct. 23 were 107. 

Three nursing home residents died during the four weeks that ended Oct. 23, equating to a rate of .17 per 100 residents. 

That’s the sixth-highest rate in the U.S., the AARP reported.

About 44% of Wyoming’s nursing home residents are up to date on COVID vaccines, and only one in five staff is current on immunizations. Wyoming in general trails the nation in COVID vaccination rates. 

Three of five nursing homes in Wyoming reported at least one staff case of the virus, or 85 cases in total. 

Wyoming nursing homes and long-term care facilities were particularly hard hit during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

One of the state’s first notable outbreaks took place at a nursing home. And by December of 2020, more than 50 residents of Casper long-term care facilities had died.

Judge urges Cody man to seek help during house arrest in Powell

POWELL (WNE) — Following a Nov.16 arraignment in Park County Fifth District Court, a Cody man has been released from the Park County Detention Center to serve house arrest in Powell. 

Benjamin Bradley Daniels, 42, was arrested Sept. 9 for felon in possession of a firearm and driving under the influence, third or subsequent offense, a misdemeanor. 

Daniels has been convicted of two violent felonies and charged with an additional violent felony in Utah. 

According to the affidavit written by Cody Police officer Jermey Traverse, Daniels was arrested after numerous calls of a Dodge pickup being driven erratically. Daniels was found parked in his truck with a rifle in the front seat. He was unable to complete the field sobriety test and refused a Breathalyzer. 

At this point he was taken to the Park County Detention Center. 

The affidavit noted that Daniels has a criminal history that includes convictions for felony strangulation of a household member in 2007 and 2011, criminal entry in 1999 and 2005, misdemeanor interference with a peace officer in 2007, 2014 and 2016, public indecency in 2007, driving under the influence in 2009, 2016, 2017 and unlawful contact in 2016. 

During Daniels’ November arraignment, District Court Judge William Simpson urged Daniels to understand the severity of his situation, get help and comply with probation requirements, which include meeting with his public defender three times a week, attending counseling and wearing an ankle monitor. Daniels may not leave the house outside of legal, counseling or medical appointments. 

Future court dates have not been scheduled.

Barrasso, Lummis support IRS accountability

TORRINGTON (WNE) – U.S. Senators John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, stated in a press release they are joining South Dakota and Iowa Senators in introducing an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Funding Accountability Act. 

“This legislation holds the IRS accountable for the $80 billion in new funding from the Democrats’ reckless tax and spending bill,” the release said. “The IRS Funding Accountability Act protects taxpayer dollars, prevents wasteful spending, and measures improvements to the IRS.” 

“Joe Biden and the Democrats want to give the IRS more power to squeeze as much money as they can out of hard-working Americans,” Barrasso wrote. “Our legislation ensures that taxpayer money is not abused by a supersized IRS and holds the service accountable for irresponsible and wasteful spending.” 

“The hardworking people of Wyoming should not be subject to frivolous audits to help pay for the Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree,” Lummis added. “This commonsense legislation will hold the IRS accountable by ensuring the American people know exactly how this increased funding is being spent.” 

The announcement comes after the October 2022 Consumer Price Index (CPI) revealed inflation has risen 13.9% since Joe Biden took office in January 2021, according to the release.