A Casper teen, Honor Jason Wickert, 17, is being charged as an adult with felony theft of three firearms and two misdemeanors for reportedly attacking his mother and running from police. Prosecutors say he is also a suspect in auto burglaries where some of the firearms went missing.

Incident Details

On Saturday, June 20, Casper police responded to a report from Wickert that his mother had head-butted and tried to stab him. However, Wickert reportedly refused to stay near the scene and instead ran from police, ditching two backpacks in yards before being caught on Wind River Avenue.

Upon searching the backpacks, police found bank cards belonging to five different people, Geek Bar nicotine vapes, a semi-automatic rifle listed as stolen, and a 100-count box of ammunition. A handwritten note from Wickert’s significant other was also found, expressing support for him.

Wickert’s mother gave consent to search his bedroom, where officers found an access panel in the closet, behind which were four more guns in a red pillowcase. At least three of the guns were confirmed stolen.

Investigation and Charges

Assistant District Attorney Maridi Choma said that Wickert is also a suspect in auto burglary cases where some of the firearms went missing and that the investigation into the bank cards is ongoing. A $50,000 cash or surety bond was set for Wickert at his initial appearance in circuit court.

Casper Police Department spokesperson Rebekah Ladd warned that auto burglaries rise in the summer and that gun owners should remove their firearms from their vehicles when they are not inside. Ladd emphasized that many stolen guns circulate in the community due to auto burglaries.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.