All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Fremont County, WY) – The sentencing hearing for Dustin Trosper has been set for April 17, according to recent federal court filings.
Trosper was originally 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 an August 14 shooting in Ethete and ensuing investigation.
Tropser went on to plead “not guilty” to the three felony Counts filed against him at his arraignment hearing held in September, and a December 2 jury trial was set.
A superseding indictment was later 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.
Trosper pled “not guilty” to all five charges at a November 22 arraignment hearing, and the jury trial was re-set for March 3.
A non-public plea agreement was later filed on Trosper’s behalf on January 3, which resulted in a January 15 change of plea hearing (later rescheduled for January 27), and an amendment to the information document on file.
The amended information document (filed on January 16) only includes the charge of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
An “initial appearance and waiver of indictment/guilty plea to information hearing” was then held on January 27, where a guilty plea was entered as to the count above in the amended information.
Following this hearing the sentencing hearing was set for April 17, set to take place before the Honorable Judge Alan B. Johnson in Cheyenne.
A carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime felony charge holds a maximum sentence of life imprisonment (no less than 5 years), a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
County 10 will provide updates on the case, which can be viewed here.