Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming Byline: Lori Hogan Date: 17 December 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime [Non-automotive content removed.]

Recent Sentencings

Public Lands Violations

Yellowstone National Park

Sandra Pappas, age 31, of Arvada, Colorado, was convicted of driving under the influence and sentenced to pay a fine of $750 and placed on one year of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban on her entering Yellowstone National Park during that time. She was also convicted of refusing an official breath test and sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration. Mandatory court costs were also ordered in the case.

Grand Teton National Park

Michael Brockman, 55, of Wilson, Wyoming, was convicted of driving under the influence and sentenced to pay a fine of $750 and placed on two years of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban on him entering Grand Teton National Park during that time. He was also convicted of interfering with a law enforcement officer and sentenced to 3 days in jail; refusing an official breath test and sentenced to 7 days in jail; convicted of contempt of court for refusing to comply with a search warrant for his blood that was issued by a United States Magistrate Judge and sentenced to 10 days in jail; convicted of leaving the scene of an accident and ordered to pay a fine of $650. Mandatory court costs were also ordered in the case.

Firearm Offenses

Jarred Luther Pacheco, 39, with no permanent residency, was sentenced to 41 months, with three years’ supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He will serve his sentence consecutive to a Colorado sentence. According to court documents, on October 14, 2023, the Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) attempted to pull over the defendant because the car he was driving was reported stolen out of Colorado. The defendant fled at high rates of speed. CPD caught up with the vehicle and stopped  Pacheco. During their contact with Pacheco. they found a 12-gauge shotgun between the driver’s door and the driver’s seat. Pacheco was previously convicted of a felony and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Pacheco was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 19 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 13, in Cheyenne. The Bureau of Alcohol, , Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the CPD investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00111

Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Victor Hugo Lira Tepca, 37, of Tlaxcala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on June 14, Lira Tepca was arrested by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for driving while under the influence. The defendant claimed to be a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Lira Tepca had previously been removed from the U.S. in March of 2010 and had not applied for permission to reenter the U. S. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00105

Contact: Lori Hogan (Contractor)
Public Information Officer
Office: 307-772-2124 
Email: usawy.pio@usdoj.gov
Twitter: @usaowy
 

Updated December 17, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-083