CASPER, Wyo. — Here is a roundup of some of the criminal case hearings recently held in the Seventh Judicial District of Natrona County.
Sentencing for stolen vehicle/DUI crash — A Casper man convicted of stealing his mother’s car and crashing it while drunk about a year ago will have the chance to have the three- to five-year prison sentence being imposed this week reduced if he completes the state-run youth boot camp program. Jarrett Alan Kellch, 22, pleaded guilty earlier last summer to theft, a second-in-10-years DUI and hit-and-run from property damage.
Casper police responded to Goodstein Drive and Casper Mountain Road around 2:15 a.m. Sept. 29, 2025, for a report of people fleeing from a vehicle after crashing into a fence and a light pole, the CPD report said. Kellch was found on foot in the neighborhood, and he reportedly told officers he’d been hiding under vehicles. Investigators believe he’d deactivated the home cameras and took the car because his own vehicle had an ignition Interlock device. Prosecutor Amanda Kirby said his BAC was found to be .18%, over twice the legal limit.
Kellch’s mother told Judge Dan Forgey on Wednesday that the loss of the vehicle — which was nearly paid off — had affected her ability to work. She said that this incident and Kellch’s prior criminal history had affected the reputation of Kellch’s siblings and that she worried constantly for his safety, including every time she heard sirens.
Kellch will get credit for 212 days served.
Witness intimidation — A 49-year-old Casper man is charged with felony witness intimidation for allegedly telling a property owner who was a witness in his municipal trespassing case, “I’ll get you, b—-“
Mark Clinton Hinds, who appeared on the warrant last week in circuit court, insisted that he’d actually said, “You’re still a b—–.”
At a preliminary hearing this week, CPD Officer Mike Roden said he’d been working at municipal court on Sept. 17 and was in the hallway as Hinds passed by the witness. He confirmed to the prosecutor that both he and CPD Sgt. Andrea Husted had heard Hinds make the alleged statement. According to the report, the woman appeared shaken by the statement and said she was fearful of Hinds, believing he was capable of violent behavior.
Circuit Court Judge Nichole Collier agreed the felony case would proceed but also agreed to reduce bond from $5,000 cash only to $5,000 cash or surety. Hinds is also on bond in a felony theft case for reportedly stealing tires off a truck from a business yard in the county last year. He is presumed innocent unless found or pleading guilty in both cases.
DUI/Child Endangerment — A 32-year-old Casper man pleaded not guilty to a series of misdemeanors including DUI, leaving the scene of an accident and child endangerment following a crash in the intersection East Yellowstone Highway and South Beverly Street last Saturday, Oct. 4. Officer Hunter Brzozowski wrote in the report that he heard the crash around 10:12 a.m. while on patrol in the area. He looked to see a vehicle speed off from the scene of the other wrecked vehicle in the intersection.
The suspect vehicle reportedly pulled over after seeing the officer in pursuit. The officer said the driver got out of the vehicle, appearing agitated and smelling of a strong alcoholic beverage. He reportedly couldn’t follow directions enough to take some of the field sobriety tests.
The officer said the man’s 4-year-old child was also “climbing around” in the car unrestrained, leading to another charge. Two opened containers of Lord Calvert Whiskey and two opened Rolling Rock beers were found in the car, the report said. The man posted a $5,000 cash or surety bond in circuit court this week. He is presumed innocent unless found or pleading guilty.
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Source: oilcity.news
