A Utah man accused of crashing into a Laramie house while fleeing law enforcement with his child, marijuana and illegal mushrooms in his vehicle could face up to 28 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
A judge transferred the case of Louie Anthony Villanueva, 30, of Layton, Utah, to the felony-level Albany County District Court last week. The case is ongoing.
That Odor
Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Ethan Smith stopped Villanueva at about 5 p.m. Jan. 11, because Villanueva was reportedly driving 82 mph in a 70-mph zone on an Albany County highway.
Smith caught the odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle, a Toyota Rav4, and he also spotted a package of “suspected marijuana” on the passenger-side floorboard, Smith wrote later in the case evidentiary affidavit.
Smith also spotted a boy in the vehicle, identified as Villanueva’s son, the document says.
Villanueva reportedly took off, bolting from the traffic stop at speeds reaching 108 miles per hour.
The affidavit says Villanueva kept swerving into oncoming traffic, nearly colliding head-on with other drivers on the highway. He passed two vehicles by reportedly driving onto the road shoulder.
Smith gave up the chase when Villanueva hit town.
But Villanueva sped north on 3rd Street in Laramie, lost control of his car, swerved across traffic, hit the sidewalk curb and jumped the car through a fence, some bushes and into someone’s house.
He “completely (destroyed) the front porch before crashing back onto the street,” says the affidavit.
Villanueva eventually stopped and took his son out of the car — just as Smith arrived.
“I feel like I’m gonna die! Owwww that hurt!” the boy was screaming, the affidavit says.
Smith noticed the Toyota —now badly damaged — was registered to a family member of Villanueva’s, not to Villanueva.
The Hunt
Agents searched the vehicle and allegedly found:
- Four Ziploc bags of suspected psilocybin mushrooms together weighing 23.37 grams with packaging.
- Two dispensary bags, one Ziploc bag and one plastic dispensary containing suspected marijuana, together weighing 39.29 with packaging.
- One suspected THC vape pen, with THC material weighing 19.87 grams including the device.
- One jar of suspected THC wax weighing 108.91 grams with packaging.
- One glass pipe with narcotic residue.
- One Naloxone rescue kit including two sealed needles and two jars of suspected Naloxone.
The Tally
Villanueva faces one count of felony eluding (punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines), two counts of felony property destruction (up to 10 years and $10,000), one count of misdemeanor child endangerment (up to one year and $1,000), one count of misdemeanor mushroom possession (up to one year and $1,000), one count of misdemeanor marijuana possession (up to one year and $1,000) and one count of misdemeanor reckless driving (up to six months and $750).
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
