A man from Atlantic City, Wyoming, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of strangling his girlfriend and asked a judge to let him see his small children soon.
Strangulation of a household member is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Samuel Don Carpenter also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor reckless endangering charge, punishable by up to one year in jail; and a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, punishable by up to six months in jail and $750 in fines.
The charges stem from shortly after midnight April 16, when Carpenter’s fiancée met with Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies, saying Carpenter grew violent throughout the evening after she warmed up leftovers instead of letting him cook elk steak for the family.
Deputies discovered bruises on the woman’s arms; redness, bruising and swelling on her neck; a bump on her head; and bruises on both cheeks, according to an evidentiary affidavit filed in the case.
On Tuesday after Christina Cherni, Carpenter’s attorney, entered his not-guilty pleas, she asked District Court Judge Kate McKay to let Carpenter see his young daughters.
Cherni said she is working with Carpenter’s fiancée, who also has an attorney, to get Carpenter in touch with his children. There is a protection order in place keeping Carpenter from his fiancée, she added.
Fremont County Attorney Patrick LeBrun proposed changing the original no-contact order, which says Carpenter can’t have contact with his fiancée, to say that he can have contact with her if her protection order against him allows it, and she can negotiate child visitation.
McKay agreed, saying Carpenter can have “lawful and peaceful” contact with his children and can work out any custody agreements going forward.
