CASPER — A 39-year-old Casper man accused of nearly biting off the finger of a deputy in May following an arrest on a parole violation made pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency at his arraignment Wednesday in Natrona County District Court.
Andrew Beau Barrett has a history of biting people. In addition to being charged with aggravated assault and battery for his actions on May 13 at the Natrona County jail, he also is facing charges of being a habitual criminal, interference with a police officer and two counts of possession of a controlled substance involving meth and marijuana.
Barrett sat at a defense table in a wheelchair, wearing glasses, a green jail top and orange bottoms before Natrona County District Court Judge Daniel Forgey. His Cheyenne-based attorney, Jonathan Foreman, appeared via video.
Barrett showed no signs of behavior that was manifested at his initial appearance in Casper Circuit Court. During that appearance, he barked, made growling sounds, stuck out his tongue and then answered the judge’s questions as if nothing was amiss.
Foreman told the judge that he had met twice with Barrett preparing to represent him and during both occasions Barrett “was competent.”
“I am able to talk to Mr. Barrett,” Foreman said, adding that court records show he was not competent on a prior case.
Forgey read though the charges against Barrett and asked him if he understood what he is charged with.
“Yes sir,” Barrett said.
Forgey asked him if he understood that he would be pleading not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency. He said he did.
Mental Competency Evaluation
Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen asked that the court consider an inpatient evaluation of Barrett. But Foreman said he would rather leave that decision up to the Wyoming State Hospital, which conducts those evaluations.
Forgey asked Itzen and Foreman to get an order before the court for a mental health evaluation as soon as possible.
Foreman said he would not ask for any reduction in the $100,000 cash bond that was set for his client.
The latest charges against Barrett stem from a probation and parole check May 13 that involved a Wyoming Probation and Parole agent and Casper Police Department officer.
A court affidavit filed by the Casper police officer states that when visiting Barrett, who has one leg, the officer noticed him “hop over to a table in his living room” and put a plastic bag in his pocket.
A search of the house uncovered a glass pipe with burn marks used for meth and Barrett told the officer the plastic bag held marijuana. He was arrested.
Barrett was on parole after serving prison time for an aggravated assault and battery charge that involved biting off the tip of an index finger of a Banner Wyoming Medical Center employee on Feb. 1, 2021.
On the way to jail May 13, the affidavit states that Barrett said he was “crocodilian” and began making “guttural growling noises.”
Once at the jail, a separate arrest affidavit filed by a Natrona County Sheriff’s Office investigator said Barrett fought with deputies after being taken out the patrol car.
Deputies rolled a “restraint chair” out to the garage and moved Barrett into the chair as Barrett resisted and fought, the affidavit states.
The Bite
A deputy behind Barrett used a technique to control his head to keep him from biting or spitting at deputies.
Barrett was able to pull his head away and bite down on the deputy’s “ring finger, biting down with enough force to bite through the flesh and glove tearing away part of the finger from the first joint,” the affidavit states.
The deputy was taken to the hospital and received stitches to keep his finger intact. The deputy was told “he may need follow-up surgery” due to the damage and crushed bone, the affidavit states.
Forgey said Wednesday that Barrett had three other felonies involving a driving under the influence fourth offense, domestic battery, and his assault and battery at the hospital that qualified him as a habitual offender.
The habitual criminal charge carries the potential of life in prison. Both the aggravated assault and battery charge and interference with a police officer felony charge carries a penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $10,000.
Both possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense charges carry penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Barrett was wheeled out of the courtroom Wednesday without any issues.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
