CASPER — A 45-year-old local man caught on video allegedly casing cars with his two teenage sons said they were just spending some quality father-son time together because the boys were “getting out of control.”
Now he can spend time sharing his experience with the legal system as he faces 10 felony charges in Natrona County District Court.
Casey Cross, who’s also a convicted felon, waived his preliminary examination Tuesday in Casper Circuit Court on one count of conspiracy to commit burglary, three counts of burglary, one count of theft, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, four counts of child endangerment related to possessing fentanyl in his residence, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.
The charges stem from alleged incidents that happened April 2-5 in Casper.
Court records show Casper police were called to a home in the 1500 block of East 12th Street at 1:48 a.m. April 4 after a resident reported he saw two males trying to break into his vehicle. He said one had thrown a rock at his passenger window, causing damage.
A police sweep of the neighborhood picked up two 16-year-old juveniles who, in separate interviews, allegedly admitted they had been out with their father and dropped off by their mother. One teen told police they had been “car hopping.”
Supporting The Family
Under police questioning about incidents on previous nights in the city, including one captured on video involving a car robbery that had a person of his description as well as video showing his father with him, one juvenile admitted to being out with his father and brother April 2 checking out cars, the police affidavit states.
That same teen mentioned seeing on Snapchat a blue Taurus G2C 9 mm pistol, and during a second interview admitted to taking a gun from a vehicle and giving it to his dad to “hold” for him, the affidavit states.
The second teen told police that the family was struggling and “had recently had water turned off in their home.” He said he had been arrested for auto burglaries in Sheridan and had gone to a boy’s school as part of his release conditions, the affidavit states.
“He advised that he and his brother were just trying to help their family, stating that neither of their parents worked and the family was dependent on them to work and provide,” the affidavit states.
Both teens told police that there were items at their home taken from vehicles that were “stolen property,” including knives, vape pods and one teen admitted taking keys from a Dodge Challenger, the affidavit states.
When one teen was asked about the rock thrown at the vehicle on East 12th Street, he allegedly replied he was unsure why his brother had done that because “he did not see anything of value in the vehicle.”
Connecting With Sons
At 10 a.m. April 4, the affidavit states that police picked up Cross and his wife for questioning.
“Casey advised that he had gone out with the boys one time (previously) and that it was an attempt to connect with his sons as they had been getting ‘out of control’ lately and behaving badly,” the affidavit states.
He told police one son had removed a gun from a vehicle and given it to him to “hold” for him and it was in his dresser drawer. Cross also admitted to “removing a bag and camera from a vehicle, and possibly a few knives.”
When asked if he knew what his sons were doing, Cross told police he had “an idea” but no solid information, the affidavit states. He denied being out with his sons April 4.
A police review of car burglary reports found “several that had matching suspect information” to Cross and his sons.
The affidavit states:
On April 3, a resident on South Jefferson Street reported her truck had been burglarized and a Taurus G2S 9 mm pistol stolen. She also found a camouflage bag with hunting and fishing licenses that did not return to her and returned it to the owners. Home surveillance video at 4:37 a.m. showed “two males, wearing all black” walked up her driveway and rummaged through the unlocked vehicle.
On April 3, a resident of South McKinley reported her vehicle broken into and a range finder and binoculars, as well as various knives, were taken. Video footage showed a male in black rummaging through the car and removing items. Those items would be found in the South Jefferson Street vehicle.
On April 3 at 5 a.m., a third resident reported a Canon camera and $2 bill stolen from his pickup. The resident said the suspects were in dark clothing. Video confirmed an older male involved believed to be Cross and one of his sons.
Home Search
A search warrant for the Cross residence found the camera in a vehicle registered to Cross’ wife.
A search of the home found a “silver/teal colored Taurus G2C pistol,” drug paraphernalia, pieces of foil with fentanyl residue, various weapon magazines and ammunition, containers with marijuana residue, and THC vapes and pods, the affidavit states.
The drug paraphernalia and items with drug resident were “accessible to all the juveniles who resided there,” the affidavit states.
Because Cross was on probation, Casper police notified probation agents who ordered a drug test for him. It came back positive for cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, the affidavit states.
“Casey then admitted to using for the past several months,” the affidavit states.
In an interview with Cross’ wife, she denied knowing what her sons were doing or dropping them off, and she was “worried sick” upon learning they had been detained for “robbery,” the affidavit states. She also denied knowing about the stolen property in her vehicle or home.
Cross has an extensive criminal history with convictions for aggravated burglary in 2018 in Sheridan County, DUI in Converse County in 2005, aggravated assault in 2001 and a probation violation on the burglary charge in 2021.
Penalties for the conspiracy to commit burglary charge, other burglary counts, and theft charge Cross now faces are all up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine or both. The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of $5,000 or both.
The four child endangerment charges each carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 or both. The misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance charge carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $1,000 or both.
Cross is lodged in the Natrona County jail. His bond is set at $175,000 cash.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
