CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Two people were arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol on January 22nd, and are now facing multiple felony charges, including charges of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine and a felony firearm charge.
Brandon Betts and Laura Barber made their initial court appearances in Laramie County Circuit Court on January 23rd to hear the charges against them.
Brandon Betts, of Cheyenne, faces four felony charges including Conspiracy to Manufacture, Deliver or Possess Meth, Possession With Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Meth, and Felony Possession of a Firearm.
Laura Barber, of California, faces three felony charges including Conspiracy to Manufacture, Deliver or Possess Meth, Possession With Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Meth, and misdemeanor count of Eluding.
Wyoming Statutes state that individuals convicted of Conspiracy to Manufacture, Deliver or Possess Meth and Possession With Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine could face up to 20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine for each charge.
Court papers say that on January 22nd, a WHP Trooper observed a vehicle following another vehicle too closely while traveling northbound on I-25.
Law enforcement report that when the trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the offending vehicle, the driver, later identified as Barber, refused to pull over. Barber exited the interstate and continued to drive down a country road at low speeds for approximately a mile and a half.
Court documents say that when the WHP made contact with Barber they immediately recognized physical signs of controlled substance use. Barber is said to have told the officer that she had smoked methamphetamine a couple hours earlier.
A law enforcement affidavit says that the trooper then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle, and located a large amount of crystalline substance, suspected to be methamphetamine, in a coffee cup located in the center console.
A digital scale with crystalline residue on it was also allegedly located inside of the vehicle.
Troopers say that Betts was found to have a baggie of crystalline substance on his person. The affidavit goes on to say that Betts admitted to officer that both the substance in the cup and in his possession were, in fact, methamphetamine.
Both suspected substances were and field tested and came back presumptive positive for methamphetamine.
A reported 53 grams of meth were located altogether.
Investigators say that during the search, a 45 caliber pistol and several rounds of ammo were located in the truck of the vehicle. The pistol was determined to have been stolen. They say that it was discovered that Betts had a criminal history involving a violent felony and was disqualified from possessing a firearm.
During post-arrest interviews, conducted by the Division of Criminal Investigation, it’s indicated that Barber and Betts had obtained the controlled substances in Cheyenne to be taken to Casper to be split and sold later.
Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Laramie County Jail without further reported incident.
All of those cited are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. Charges are subject to change following official filings from the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office.