CASPER — A 20-year-old Casper man pleaded guilty in Natrona County District Court on Wednesday to being drunk while leading police on a high-speed chase at more than 100 mph before crashing and nearly killing himself and two passengers last August.
Phillip Angel Gaspar agreed in a deal with Natrona County Chief Deputy District Attorney Blaine Nelson to plead guilty to two counts of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury and one of aggravated eluding.
Under the deal, a minor in possession charge will be dropped.
Gaspar’s attorney, Marty Scott, said he would argue for the Department of Correction’s youthful offender program at sentencing.
The DUI charges both carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines of $2,000 to $5,000. The eluding charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.
Gaspar, who appeared before District Court Judge Daniel Forgey in glasses and an orange jumpsuit and shackles, pleaded guilty to the three charges and then answered the judge’s questions respectfully about the case, agreeing he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
“Were two other people seriously injured in the crash?” Forgey asked.
“Yes, sir,” Gaspar said.
A 20-year-old passenger sustained traumatic brain injuries and fractures to his pelvis, sternum and back. A 19-year-old passenger suffered traumatic brain injury, and fractures to his pelvis and back as well as lung issues caused by the trauma.
Gaspar also agreed that he tried to outrun police after an attempted traffic stop.
A police affidavit in the case states that Gaspar and his two passengers were involved in stealing beef jerky from from a Loaf ’N Jug store in the 1900 block of 2nd Street about 1:15 a.m.
The 911 dispatch center also received calls about a window in South Forest Drive being broken out at 2:20 a.m. and the occupants of a dark colored car driving away from the scene at a high rate of speed.
Second Call
A second 911 call to the South Forest Drive location at 3:12 a.m. described a male similar to the one who stole the beef jerky from the Loaf ’N Jug, the affidavit states. At 3:51 a.m., another 911 call reported three males harassing people at the Loaf ’N Jug on Curtis Street in Evansville.
The affidavit states that the harassment turned into a physical fight with two of the three males beating up on a third male. The trio left in a black car at a high rate of speed.
About an hour later, a Casper police sergeant spotted the suspect on Beverly Street and the intersection of Yellowstone Highway. It turned onYellowstone traveling east at speeds of about 100 mph.
A Natrona County Sheriff’s Office sergeant on Yellowstone saw the vehicle approach behind her at a high rate of speed and then slow down and stop next to her for a red light.
She attempted to pull the car over once the light turned green and the maroon-colored Malibu took off on Interstate 25 northbound.
She followed them with lights on and was joined by officers from the Evansville Police Department and another NCSO deputy.
“Although pursuing vehicles were traveling at approximately 95 mph, the Malibu was still pulling away from police vehicles,” the affidavit states.
The Malibu exited at Bryan Stock Trail and F Street. When officers followed, they found it crashed on the west side of the intersection of F Street and Bryan Stock Trail.
Injuries
The affidavit states Gaspar was driving, another 20-year-old was in the front passenger seat and a 19-year-old in the rear seat.
All three were transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center for treatment. Gaspar woke up as he was being removed from the vehicle and gave officers his name.
In addition to the severe injuries to his passengers, Gaspar suffered fractures to his ankle, right leg, rib and a vertebra.
Nelson told the court Wednesday that it was “remarkable that people lived through this.”
The subsequent investigation found video evidence that linked the trio to the previous incidents at the Loaf ’N Jugs and residence.
The investigation also found a video of them buying Olde English “800” 40-ounce malt liquor from the Moonlight Liquors store in Casper, the affidavit states.
During an initial police interview, Gaspar admitted to driving and that he “drank a little that night.” His alcohol level was 0.136%. Legal intoxication in Wyoming is 0.08% or more.
Scott asked the judge to consider dropping Gaspar’s $75,000 bond to $25,000 cash or surety.
Nelson argued the higher bond was appropriate and that after the crash, Gaspar left the state and went to California. He said his bond had already been reduced from $85,000 to $75,000.
Scott responded that when his client went to California there was not yet a warrant for his arrest. He also told Forgey that Gaspar’s dad lives in the city.
Forgey agreed to reduce the bond to $50,000 cash or surety. He said he would order a pre-sentence investigation.
Contact Dale Killingbeck at dale@cowboystatedaily.com
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
