The Wyoming Supreme Court has upheld the 21- to 26-year prison sentence for former Casper Police Department officer Michael Scott Hughes. Hughes pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and five counts of aggravated assault and battery after an armed standoff in east Casper on August 22, 2024.
Background of the Case
Hughes became an armed, barricaded suspect and fired a single shot toward special response team members outside his apartment window during the overnight standoff. He also fired a 10mm handgun into the concrete ceiling, endangering the residents above. A divorce and the use of alcohol and ketamine were noted factors in the incident and surrounding circumstances.
As part of the plea agreement, District Attorney Dan Itzen agreed to limit his arguments to five years in prison. However, Judge Catherine Wilking sentenced Hughes consecutively for each count, resulting in the 21- to 26-year sentence. Hughes’s attorney, Ryan Semerad, argued that the type of agreement Hughes bargained for had all the legal hallmarks of one in which he could withdraw his plea if Wilking rejected the district attorney’s argument.
Supreme Court Decision
The Wyoming Supreme Court found no error and affirmed the sentence. Hughes had spent 25 days in custody before posting a $20,000 cash or surety bond and attended two treatment facilities, one with a particular focus on issues specific to first responders.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
