All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Fremont County, WY) – The previously scheduled December 2 jury trial for Dustin Trosper has been reset for March 3, 2025, according to recent federal court filings.
Trosper was federally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, following the August 14 shooting in Ethete and the ensuing investigation.
Tropser later pled “not guilty” to the three felony Counts filed against him at his arraignment hearing held in September, and the December 2 jury trial was set.
However, a superseding indictment was filed on November 20, which added the charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. (The indictment did not include further details as to why the additional charges were added.)
Trosper pled “not guilty” to all five charges at a November 22 arraignment hearing overseen by the Honorable Judge Alan B. Johnson in the U.S. District Court of Cheyenne, where a motion to continue the jury trial was also approved.
The March jury trial was then set.
A possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense charge holds a maximum sentence of life imprisonment (10 year minimum, consecutive), a $250,000 fine
up to 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee.
A possession with intent to distribute fentanyl charge holds a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, life of supervised release (no less than three years), and a $100 special assessment fee.
Combined with the other charges, Trosper faces a total of life imprisonment (20 year minimum, consecutive), $2,000,000 in fines, 3 years of supervised release, and $500 in special assessment fees.
County 10 will provide updates on the case, which can be viewed here.