State Briefs

Cheyenne man pleads guilty to strangulation, property destruction

CHEYENNE (WNE) – Eric Earl Carter pleaded guilty to felony strangulation of a household member and felony property destruction in two separate cases as part of a plea agreement.

In the agreement, the state and defendant jointly recommended sentences of three years of probation, with a suspended sentence of three to five years of incarceration, for each count. The sentences would run concurrently.

Additional charges in both cases – two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery (first offense), misdemeanor driving under the influence and three additional misdemeanor driving offenses – would be dismissed at sentencing.

Froelicher scheduled Carter’s sentencing for July 1.

In the strangulation case, Carter’s then-girlfriend reported to Cheyenne Police that, on Oct. 19, Carter beat her up during an argument, causing injury. At one point, he put her in a headlock and squeezed her neck, according to court documents. When police arrived, Carter repeatedly told the woman not to open the door for them and physically blocked her from doing so.

In the property destruction case, Carter was charged with involvement in a hit and run on Jan. 16, 2020. Cheyenne Police officers responded to the intersection of Alexander Avenue and East Pershing Boulevard, where they apprehended Carter with the help of witnesses, according to court documents. Carter seemed intoxicated and was arrested.

Witnesses said Carter was tailgating a woman’s vehicle when he rear-ended her. The woman got out of the vehicle to speak to Carter when he suddenly struck her vehicle five times, pushing it forward, while two young children were still inside. Carter then left the scene.

Laramie man charged with threatening state, federal elected officials

LARAMIE (WNE) — Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced on Friday the unsealing of an indictment, under U.S. District Court Docket Number 21-CR29-S, charging Christopher Kent Podlesnik, 51, Laramie, with seven counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. 

In the indictment, a federal grand jury charged Podlesnik with leaving voicemail messages threatening various elected officials on Jan. 28, including members of Congress. 

Podlesnik made his initial appearance by video-teleconference before the Honorable Mark L. Carman, a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming. Podlesnik is scheduled to appear for an arraignment and detention hearing on March 30. A future jury trial should be scheduled at that time. 

“As Americans, we cherish the freedoms secured by our Bill of Rights, including our freedom of speech,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Murray. “However, true threats of violence are not protected by the Constitution.

“Working with the FBI and other partners, the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate such threats and seek charges in appropriate cases.” 

“The FBI remains committed to protecting the civil liberties of all Americans to include First Amendment protected speech. We are equally committed to investigating violations of federal law when speech threatens violence and physical harm to others,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. 

Per count, a person convicted of transmitting threats in interstate commerce faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. 

An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.