CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On June 12, 2023, Cheyenne witnessed a vehicle theft that ended in the sentencing of Harley Simon Kingma. Judge Steven K. Sharpe handed down a three- to six-year sentence to Kingma on March 25, 2024, acknowledging his 288 days of time served. He was found guilty by a jury trial in December.
Trooper Dellos, a member of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, reported that dispatch informed him of a stolen green two-tone Dodge pickup truck as well as a firearm. The vehicle was stolen near milepost 13.9 on Interstate 25.
The owner described being dragged 30 feet after attempting to prevent the theft in the affidavit of probable cause and wrote a letter to the court stating that he is still suffering from the injuries he received during the theft. In a victim impact statement at sentencing, the owner’s wife described the difficulties the injuries have caused her and her family.
Kingma was found with the stolen vehicle miles away from the crime scene. He was apprehended at milepost 47. During the arrest, Kingma claimed he was fleeing from assailants. However, Dellos noted multiple injuries that looked to be self-inflicted on Kingma.
The vehicle, valued between $19,900 and $36,000, became the center of a felony stop that involved Dellos and Trooper Quade.
