A Cheyenne man is facing a felony charge after police say the man was contacted while driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen.
According to documents filed in Laramie County Circuit Court, the 27 year old man is facing a single felony charge of Theft. Persons found guilty of felony Theft face potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to $10,000, or both.
All of those cited or arrested 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.
Cheyenne Police Department officers say, in an affidavit of probable cause, that they were patrolling near West Lincolnway and Westland Road at approximately 2:25 a.m. November 21. Police report that they observed a vehicle matching the description of a vehicle that had been recently reported stolen.
Officers say that they confirmed the vehicle’s registration as matching the stolen vehicle and initiated a stop.
Police say they contacted a driver, identified in court documents as Gustavo Romero-Catano.
The vehicle is described in the affidavit as a 2004 GMC Envoy SUV valued at approximately $5,000.
“Multiple officers witnessed Romero-Catano sitting in the driver’s seat and observed him exit that seat during a high-risk traffic stop,” police write. Details as to why the stop was considered “high-risk” were not included in the affidavit.
During a Circuit Court hearing on November 22, a bond amount of $1,000 cash was issued. It is expected that Romero-Catano will be scheduled for a Preliminary Hearing at a later date, to see if the charges against him will be bound over to District Court.
