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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>You Still Here? Saturday, July 6, 2024 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

That's one way to handle a bear.....

You Still Here? Saturday, July 6, 2024

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's managing editor, Greg Johnson.

Greg Johnson

Crime & Courts

Law Enforcement

A Rock Springs woman is accused of leaving her baby alone in a parked car while she spent hours drinking at a local bar.

It was about 2:16 a.m. Saturday when “officers were in the area of a local bar on an unrelated call when they heard frantic yelling coming from the parking lot,” Rock Springs Police Department spokesperson Phylicia Lukacik says in a Monday report about the incident.

When officers responded, a witness ran to them reporting that “a woman had left a baby inside a parked vehicle,” the report says.

They found the infant alive, alone and strapped into a rear-facing car seat. The baby was taken into the custody of the Wyoming Department of Family Services.

“Officers were eventually able to reach the child’s mother and asked her to return to the scene,” Lukacik says in her report. “When she arrived, officers observed numerous signs of intoxication.”

While talking with police, the woman allegedly admitted to leaving her baby unattended while she went inside the nearby bar, the report says.

The report doesn’t say if the vehicle was locked or unlocked or the condition of the baby.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Left For Hours"}]

While investigating, officers reviewed surveillance video from the bar, which showed the woman and another adult “arriving together and leaving the infant in the vehicle before entering the bar,” according to the report.

“The footage showed no one returning to check on the child until officers became involved,” the report adds.

Investigators determined the baby had been left unattended in the vehicle for several hours.

The mother was arrested on suspicion of abandoning or endangering children and booked into the Sweetwater County Detention Center.

While the report doesn’t identify the mother, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office shows a woman named Kaylie Jo Rowe, 31, was arrested Saturday and is being held in the jail on those same charges.

[{"type":"text","text":"Rowe also is the only inmate listed with those charges."}]

“Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle is never safe,” Lukacik says in her report. “Children can quickly become victims of heat, cold, medical emergencies, or other dangers when left alone.”

Rock Springs Green Sign 1 Matt Idler 3 27 26

<title>Rock Springs Mom Accused Of Leaving Baby In Car For Hours While She Drank In Bar | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Rock Springs woman is accused of leaving her baby alone in a parked vehicle while she spent hours drinking at a local bar Saturday. Police say the woman appeared intoxicated and admitted to leaving her baby unattended while she went inside a nearby bar.

Rock Springs Mom Accused Of Leaving Baby In Car For Hours While She Drank In Bar

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Government & Politics

Politics

As the Wyoming Republican Party breaks recent tradition — and arguably state law — to vet and endorse certain candidates before the primary election this year, some candidates are refusing to participate.

An at least one U.S. House candidate, Kevin Christensen, fears the process has devolved into a pay-to-play system. Christensen forwarded Cowboy State Daily a Friday email state GOP executive director Ginger Bennett sent on the party’s behalf, listing “Past donations to the State or County parties” as part of the endorsement vetting criteria the GOP state central committee has approved.

Christensen had participated in the vetting process by sending back the party's questionnaire, which consists of yes-or-no blanks for indicating whether one agrees with each of the 23 state platform planks. Christensen agrees with the planks altogether, his questionnaire says. 

The vetting committee declined to call for his endorsement, Bennett’s email indicates.  

“I am disappointed that the Republican Party would choose to adopt criteria for evaluation candidates that are not explicitly authorized in Article 2 of their bylaws; and that those criteria would include contributions as a measure of, presumably, your loyalty to the party,” he said. “Creating a perception, at least for me, that we now have a pay-to-play system for an endorsement.”

Christensen is running against nine other candidates for GOP nomination to Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat.

The primary election, set for Aug. 18 this year, allows the voters who are registered Republican and Democrat to choose their respective nominees in each partisan office. Wyoming doesn’t let its major parties nominate candidates.

State law also bars the major parties from financially backing one of their registrants over another during the primary cycle.

The state party’s endorsement process of this year, if it involves any expense, may violate that law.

However, the state party is currently waging a federal legal litigation attempt to have that law overturned. It cites noteworthy case law upholding other major parties’ functions as First Amendment rights.

[{"type":"text","text":"The case is ongoing."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Some Loyalists, Some Caveats"}]

Eight U.S. House candidates turned in a questionnaire the party sent them. The questionnaire consists of yes-or-no blanks under each of the state party’s 23 platform planks, as well as lines reserved for additional comment.

Christensen, philanthropist Steve Friess, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Casper businessman Reid Rasner, military veteran David Giralt, and Teton County-based attorney Frank Chapman all marked 100% agreement with the party’s platform.

Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow marked one no, on a plank declaring state primacy over lands in Wyoming that were unappropriated to the state when it entered the union.

“I do not support selling or transferring federal land to the State,” she wrote. Balow agreed with plank 8’s assertion that “Marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman,” but noted in a caveat that current law doesn’t say that.

State Senate President Bo Biteman didn’t send the party back its questionnaire. Neither did Casper-based candidate Keith Goodenough.

Biteman said in a Monday text message, “I can remember when Republicans criticized Democrats for having party insiders and power brokers trying to pick nominees from the top down. I don’t think we should become what we used to criticize.”

“My focus is on earning the support of Wyoming voters, not on internal party politics,” said Biteman, adding that the party should be working to grow its ranks, not predetermine the primary election outcome. “At the end of the day, I trust the voters.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"… And The Spicy One"}]

Richard Dodson sent back a questionnaire full of caveats. He’s not alone in feeling that the platform contains many inconsistencies: that’s 

 GOP candidates during the questionnaire rollout.

The first plank says “All individuals are endowed by their Creator from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death with the rights to Life, Liberty, Property and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Dodson marked agreement. But, he added, “I think vesting property rights at conception is opening a big can of worms.”

Other Republicans have voiced concern with how plank 1’s language suggests opposition to the death penalty.

Plank 23 says “The Wyoming Republican Party opposes any federal takeover or interference of federal, state, or local elections.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Dodson agrees, his questionnaire says."}]

“Which is why I’m puzzled by the sheer number of Wyoming Republicans who support the SAVE Act which is the most egregious takeover attempt of state election authority I’ve ver (sic) seen,” he wrote. “What’s up with that?”

Dodson told Cowboy State Daily in a Monday phone interview that he “didn’t expect much” from this process but is filling out all questionnaires so that he can get voters’ attention in the crowded race. His brand of Republican is “pragmatic,” he said, and he’s finding a base for it.

“I answered the questions based off my true thoughts without much regard to whether anybody else would like them,” said Dodson.

Gabe Saint manages Gray’s campaign, but he spoke to Cowboy State Daily on Monday in his individual capacity.

He’s voiced repeated concerns via Facebook that the party plans to endorse more than one U.S. House candidate.

[{"type":"text","text":"He declined to say Monday what informs those concerns."}]

“The Wyoming Republican party is the best GOP in the  nation,” said Saint. “I think it’s very representative of the people of Wyoming, and I just want to see the party and the grassroots movement rally behind our conservative candidates and only do one endorsement. Don’t split any votes; just take everything to the finish line.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Gray did not respond by publication to an email request for comment."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Veteran"}]

Bennett’s email telling Christesen he wouldn’t be getting the endorsement had listed other criteria besides donations to the party.

For example, it listed past donations to other parties or candidates, previous involvement with party committees, and legislative record breakdowns according to various sites. Those sites include Washington-DC-based Club for Growth Foundation.

“I talked with (state GOP Chairman) Bryan Miller,” said Christensen. “I said ‘Bryan. We are the election integrity party. It’s front and center…. You use sources outside the state of Wyoming – people who are not allowed to vote in Wyoming – to influence the vote in Wyoming, that is inconsistent with our voter integrity position as the Republican Party.’”

Miller declined Monday to respond to a series of questions sent to him and to Bennett ahead of the GOP central committee’s endorsement meeting Monday evening. Cowboy State Daily will update this story if Miller lends timely comment.

Christensen sent a Saturday email to Bennett and Miller asking the vetting committee to reconsider

The bylaw calling for vetting and endorsement says criteria “shall include but are not limited to: commitment to the Wyoming Republican Party Platform, demonstrated loyalty to the Party’s principles, legal eligibility to hold office, and for incumbents, their voting record.”

Christensen’s time in both military and federal service had barred him from partisan activities as well, he noted.  

“For those Republicans who have served their country in the military and also in federal service, who were restricted from political activity, this criteria… has a chilling effect on bringing some of the most talented people available to run for office,” said Christensen.

GOP convention 5 4 25 26 3

<title>Candidate Worries Wyoming GOP Doing 'Pay To Play' Endorsements | Cowboy State Daily</title>

As the Wyoming Republican Party breaks recent tradition — and arguably state law — to endorse candidates before the primary, some won't participate. “We now have a pay-to-play system for an endorsement,” one candidate worried aloud.

Candidate Worries Wyoming GOP Doing 'Pay To Play' Endorsements

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Courts

 inside a Rock Springs home as a many allegedly held a woman captive for days and threatened to murder her cat is now headed for trial.

Jake Thomas Canestrini, 24, pleaded not guilty last week in Sweetwater County District Court to a string of felony charges accusing him of holding his girlfriend captive while repeatedly beating, strangling and torturing her with a razor blade, a kitchen fork and a knife.

The not guilty pleas came one week after a judge found there was enough evidence at a preliminary hearing to send the case to district court.

The allegations first surfaced in June after the woman escaped the home and told police she had survived days of escalating violence that left her afraid for her life.  

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"How It Started "}]

The woman told investigators the abuse began May 30, shortly after her parents left town.

She and Canestrini had been dating for about three years and were living together at her parents' Rock Springs home.

Not long after they were alone, she said Canestrini threw her to the ground several times and refused to let her leave, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in his case.

"Every time she tried to get up and run, the woman said, Canestrini would yank her by the hair to keep her down," Rock Springs Police Officer Tiffany Harris wrote in her affidavit.

On June 2, Canestrini allegedly called the woman's employer himself and told them she would not be coming to work.

The woman told investigators every attempt to resist or escape only brought more violence.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Razor Blade, Fork And Knife"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The allegations became increasingly disturbing as the days went on."}]

Court records allege Canestrini used a razor blade to cut the woman's thighs, hips, stomach and arm. She also reported being stabbed in the upper back and buttock with a kitchen fork.

She told investigators that during one confrontation, Canestrini allegedly pressed a kitchen knife against her throat.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"I will f***ing murder you,\" he allegedly told her."}]

The woman reportedly told police he also said, "I will murder your cat. I will murder your f***ing family if you get the cops involved. I will wait 20 years so I can kill you,” the affidavit says.

The woman says she was strangled multiple times during the ordeal, telling investigators there were moments she couldn't breathe and believed she was going to die.

Medical records cited in the affidavit indicate that a physician later diagnosed her with a concussion.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Escape"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The woman eventually managed to escape."}]

When officers found her, they documented what court records describe as numerous visible injuries that they believed matched her account of days of abuse.

Investigators later searched the residence and collected additional evidence before Canestrini was arrested.

Cowboy State Daily left a message for Canestrini's attorney, Joseph August Hampton, asking what forms the basis of his client's not guilty plea and if Canestrini disputes the allegations in the charging documents.

[{"type":"text","text":"Hampton did not respond before publication."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"November Trial "}]

Barring a plea agreement or other resolution, a Sweetwater County jury will begin hearing the case Nov. 2.

[{"type":"text","text":"Canestrini remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."}]

If convicted, he faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.

Under Wyoming law, kidnapping is punishable by 20 years to life in prison if the victim is not voluntarily released substantially unharmed in a safe place before trial.

He also faces additional prison time if convicted of the remaining felony charges.

Jake Thomas Canestrini 6 19 26

<title>Rock Springs Man Accused Of Torturing Girlfriend For Days Pleads Not Guilty | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Rock Springs man accused of holding his girlfriend captive for days while torturing her has pleaded not guilty. Court records allege he warned her: "I will murder your cat. I will murder your family if you get the cops involved."

Rock Springs Man Accused Of Torturing Girlfriend For Days Pleads Not Guilty

Around 18 months before he won the Republican nomination to a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives in 2022, Daniel Singh told a podcaster friend that he was pro-choice, progressive, and believed hard drugs should be legal.  

The Cheyenne man, who is now eyeing a contested state Senate seat, said he wanted to build a network of progressives in Cheyenne, according to 

 Cowboy State Daily first accessed Friday.

Singh first won the GOP nomination for House District 61 on Aug. 16, 2022, over two other candidates. He went on to win the general election and was sworn into office in early 2023.  

 of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus during his freshman term.

The caucus is a bloc of House Republicans whose website says they “plan together, work together, and pray together in pursuit of policies that promote truth by protecting life, private property rights, and Judeo-Christian family values.”

 but still aligns with it generally — in about January of this year.

[{"type":"text","text":"‘Far-Right Fascist Figure'"}]

About two years before entering office, Singh had described himself as a pro-choice progressive willing to legalize hard drugs. 

He specifically denied being a conservative. That’s according to the podcast by Singh’s longtime, and former, friend Toby Thompson, who is also from Cheyenne but now lives in Georgia.

Upon request, Thompson sent Cowboy State Daily a screenshot of the recording’s data that indicates it was recorded Feb. 28, 2021.

“I have a good one for you today,” begins Thompson’s voiceover introduction to the podcast interview, which he did not publish until Sept. 20, 2024 — after Singh’s second primary election win.

“What you’re about to hear is an interview I conducted with Wyoming House District 61 Representative Daniel Singh,” said Thompson. “This was actually supposed to be the first episode of (podcast) 'Nobody Talks Religion and Politics,' but Daniel asked me to shelve it at the time because he believed it would make it harder to manipulate Republican voters into electing him.”

Thompson said that as Singh’s friend, he complied with that request.

“But after watching him devolve from a progressive leader I could believe in into a far-right fascist figure, I feel my responsibility as a writer and proud Wyomingite outweighs Daniel’s request as my friend,” said Thompson. 

He said he wasn’t publishing the podcast to sabotage Singh and didn’t believe he had enough listeners to influence what was then the upcoming general election.

Thompson said he was publishing it, rather, so Singh would listen to it “and be reminded of the man he was at the start of his political journey.”

[{"type":"text","text":"In a Friday phone interview, Thompson doubled down."}]

“I think Daniel Singh is excellent at political maneuvering and like, reading the writing on the wall,” said Thompson, adding that he believes Singh aligned with the Freedom Caucus to ride “the rise of MAGA politics,” and that he will “ride whatever political wave will keep him in power.”

[{"type":"text","text":"‘I’m Definitely Committed To The Republican Party'"}]

Singh countered in a Friday phone interview, noting that he doesn’t now associate with Thompson, and insisted that he does not hold the views captured in that interview.

“I’m definitely committed to the Republican Party,” said Singh, adding that being pro-life and other party planks aren’t just stances, they’re “timeless truths.”

Singh said he recorded that podcast before getting involved with the Republican Party, and he’s changed his views over time as he’s learned what matters to his community.

“Ronald Reagan started out as a Democrat, and became one of the most influential conservatives of our time,” said Singh. “And people change their minds.”

Singh registered to vote as a Republican in Laramie County in 2016 and has not changed his party affiliation, the Laramie County Clerk’s office confirmed Monday.

[{"type":"text","text":"Singh is 29. He was 24 during the interview with Thompson."}]

 Singh is now running for state Senate in a primary election contest against Republican incumbent Sen. Evie Brennan. The election is Aug. 18. 

Singh’s 2022 and 2024 GOP campaign opponent Matt Malcom told Cowboy State Daily he believes Singh doesn’t believe the Freedom Caucus’ positions.

“I think he’s putting on a show in order to galvanize more support around the issues he cares about,” said Malcom.

Malcom said he campaigned on more moderate positions than Singh in their races.

Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, cast Singh’s Freedom Caucus alignment as a political opportunity.

“It’s really disheartening to see someone throw their personal political beliefs away because they saw an opportunity to join the Freedom Caucus,” said Provenza. “This out-of-state machine that will help them get elected — assuming that’s what Daniel’s beliefs are, or were.”

Provenza added, “It just begs the question of if this system works at all? It’s just sad.”

The Freedom Caucus amassed significant momentum in 2024, telling the public it had gained control of the House. It is part of a larger national network of Freedom Caucus chapters.

House Appropriations Chair and former Freedom Caucus leader John Bear, R-Gillette, ventured a cautious guess on the contrast between Singh’s interview and his generally conservative voting record.

“I would guess he wasn’t masquerading (as a conservative in the Legislature) because he hasn’t changed his voting significantly from when he was more aligned … with the Freedom Caucus,” said Bear.

Singh also made comments during Thompson’s podcast about being an atheist and a stoic. Bear voiced confusion over that, saying his view of Singh’s personal life has indicated Christian missionary activities.

[{"type":"text","text":"“That doesn’t make sense,” said Bear."}]

Singh told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that he is a Christian now, having “had to humble myself and learn firsthand not only what it is I believe, and my personal relationship with God. But how does that apply to my political theory.”

Thompson asked early during the podcast interview what issues matter most to Singh.

“I find myself talking a lot about women having access to abortion, gun laws ... “ began Singh.

[{"type":"text","text":"Thompson interrupted, telling Singh to talk about abortion."}]

“Women have to have access to the medical procedure of an abortion,” said Singh. 

He said that pro-lifers have good intentions, but women denied legal access to abortions will get them illegally and reap worse medical consequences.

“It’s a medical practice and women’s lives are on the line, and this is a decision an individual needs to be able to make,” he said.

During his first legislative session in 2023, Singh cosponsored the Life Is a Human Right Act — a near-total ban on abortion into which the Senate added exemptions for rape and incest — along with a similar ban on abortion pills. 

The Wyoming Supreme Court declared both bans unconstitutional on Jan. 6 of this year, citing the Wyoming Constitution’s promise of health care autonomy.

Singh told Cowboy State Daily on Friday, “I’m definitely pro-life, 100% pro-life. I feel like my voting record reflects that.”

He has voted in favor of pro-life legislation every year since his election.

During his interview with Thompson, Singh voiced passion for gun rights, saying people should be able to have whatever weapons they can afford, and that if everyone is armed, then people may be safer altogether.

While different Republicans vary, the party tends to favor gun rights and gun access.

Singh had told Thompson, according to the podcast recording, that former President Richard Nixon’s war on drugs was a “waste of resources obviously” and an embarrassment.

“Why should the government have a problem if someone smokes some weed on their couch, or does some mushrooms on their weekend in the forest, or even like, smokes some crack in their garage?” Singh had told Thompson. “If they’re not hurting — not doing something that’s actually a crime other than like the drug itself — why are we treating them like animals?”

Society should treat drug addiction like a health problem instead, he said.

In his interview Friday, Singh said he wants the state to reform its drug classifications and “we need to at least get to where President Trump has moved cannabis.”

The president has reclassified many marijuana products as schedule III, meaning they’re recognized as having a medical purpose. Wyoming has chosen against following suit, keeping the drug in the schedule I, non-medical class.

Singh said there are people in Wyoming who use marijuana and aren’t a danger to society, and that, “I don’t think we should treat them like criminals.”

That matches his legislative record. He’s repeatedly tried to run legislation to allow and regulate “consumable hemp” products.

[{"type":"text","text":"Singh differed Friday from his 2021 stance on “crack,” or cocaine."}]

“Crack is a problem. We don’t want crack,” Singh said with a laugh. “Crack actually destroys communities.”

He added, “But using the war on drugs to infringe upon civil liberties is something I disagree with.”

[{"type":"text","text":"On Party Politics"}]

Singh told Thompson in 2021 that he’d like to see the establishment of an explicitly progressive party in Cheyenne. He criticized the national mainstream Democratic establishment.

He also said “a bunch of, like, 60-year-old ranch hands that have a very, like, particular view of how the world works” have had the power to dictate what it means to be from Wyoming.

“But the people who don’t agree with … the Judeo-Christian, white nationalistic view of what America is but would rather see America be different,” said Singh, “our voices are pretty much suppressed.”

Wyoming’s political binary isn’t between Republican and Democrat, but between Republicans and “progressives with the support of the Democratic party,” said Singh. 

He said progressives can often explain their stances to conservatives “if you frame your arguments right.”

“If we want political change we need energy, we need bravery, we need boldness, we need charisma; like, we need to fight as if we’re fighting for real political power and we have a chance to win it,” said Singh. “Because we do have a chance to win it.”

Singh voiced support for nuclear energy, a nationwide high-speed rail system, and automating farming. He said he’s not opposed to the government owning land, “if it’s for, like, state parks. Stuff like that.”

Singh in recent months has voiced a strong Christian faith on his political Facebook page. He told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that is sincere.

In 2021, he told Thompson he identified as a stoic, meaning: “living according to virtue, and according to nature.” 

He described the value of focusing on one’s actions rather than his plight.

He denied the existence of God and the human soul. He said a human’s life is a gift one shouldn’t waste.  

“I think I wrestled with (faith) for a long time when I was young,” said Singh in his Friday interview. “I think a lot of young people wrestle with that. 

"And as life has gone on, it’s just been so absolutely crystal clear to me that there’s a God out there, and Jesus specifically died on the cross for my sins.

[{"type":"text","text":"‘Nazi Shit’"}]

In Thompson’s 2024 voiceover on the podcast, he addressed Singh, called Singh’s 2021 statements “beautiful,” and said, “It’s never too late to stop doing Nazi shit.”

Thompson elaborated in a Friday email to Cowboy State Daily, defining “Nazi shit” in part as: “targeting/scapegoating of racial and gender minorities,” “targeting public library and education systems in what amounts to the contemporary equivalent of book burning.” 

Thompson added, “hyper-nationalism and blind allegiance to a single executive figurehead that has been unconstitutionally centralizing power in his own hands could also fit the fascist bill.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Thompson did not point to any legislation specifically.  "}]

Rep. Daniel Singh, an incumbent Republican from Cheyenne who was once a member of the Freedom Caucus, says he's changed since identifying as a pro-choice, progressive atheist in a recently surfaced 2021 podcast interview. "People change their minds," he said.

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