A Colorado man accused of leading a Wyoming state trooper on a 100-mph chase that ended with one of his passengers dead has been bound over to district court on aggravated homicide by vehicle and several other charges.
But a second-degree murder allegation — which carries a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison — did not move forward with the case Monday.
James K. Moore, born in 1999, now faces aggravated homicide by vehicle involving DUI, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, along with property destruction, two aggravated fleeing charges, reckless driving and a taillight violation in connection with the July 23 crash south of Cheyenne.
It Started With The Taillights
Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Brandon Todd spotted a white Hyundai traveling south on Interstate 25 in Laramie County at about 11:12 p.m. the night of the crash.
It had “no active taillights,” Todd wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
The trooper caught up with the Hyundai and activated his emergency lights near Exit 7. At first, the car appeared as though it was going to pull over.
Instead, it went up the off-ramp, turned onto Clear Creek Parkway and accelerated.
Todd activated his siren and reported the Hyundai reaching speeds of more than 100 mph in a 45-mph zone.
About a minute into the pursuit, Todd saw what he described as a “small explosion” as the Hyundai crashed. He continued south but lost sight of the car.
The Parking Lot
Three minutes later, Todd found the mangled Hyundai in the parking lot of Simon at 6215 Clear Creek Parkway.
Moore was unconscious and unresponsive behind the wheel, still belted into the driver's seat, the affidavit says.
A second man was semi-conscious in the passenger seat with severe bruising on the right side of his face.
As Todd tried to speak with the men, Moore began itching his nose but would not respond to verbal commands. Todd also reported smelling a strong odor of a flavored alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle.
Then the trooper began walking back through the debris field toward his patrol car.
At about 11:24 p.m., he found a third passenger, later identified as Christian Dawsey.
Dawsey was lying face down and had suffered injuries “not compatible with life,” Todd wrote.
Beer Cans, ‘Shooters’ And A Sex Toy
The wreckage scattered across the parking lot offered investigators another look at what may have been happening inside the Hyundai before it crashed.
Todd reported finding empty beer cans and liquor “shooters” throughout the vehicle and debris field. A small red-and-clear alcoholic beverage was also found in the driver's side cup holder.
As investigators went through backpacks scattered in the wreckage, Todd reported finding fake urine and a sex toy.
Four days later, Todd learned Moore was on probation and said he believed the fake urine was intended to defeat urine tests required as part of that probation.
The next day, Todd contacted the Larimer County Probation Office in Colorado and was told Moore was on probation for felony menacing involving a real or simulated weapon. Moore's probation officer also told Todd that Moore was not permitted to be in Wyoming.
Blood Draw
Emergency crews extricated Moore and the surviving passenger.
Because the crash involved a death and serious bodily injury, a blood sample was taken from Moore at about 11:43 p.m., the affidavit says.
The court documents do not state the results of that blood test.
Moore was later flown by LifeFlight to Colorado for further medical care. The other man, from South Carolina, was taken by ground ambulance to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
Investigators estimated the 2025 Hyundai sustained between $13,180 and $18,180 in damage.
Charges Narrowed
When Moore appeared in circuit court Aug. 3, Judge Nathaniel S. Hibbens set his bond at $100,000 cash only and appointed public defender Michael R. Vang to represent him.
At Monday's preliminary hearing, the court found probable cause to send six counts to district court: aggravated homicide by vehicle involving DUI; property destruction of $1,000 or more; two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police, one involving bodily injury and another involving more than $10,000 in property damage; reckless driving; and a taillight violation.
If Moore is released, his bond conditions require mandatory drug testing and prohibit him from having contact with Dawsey's family.
Monday's bind-over is not a finding of guilt. It means the court found enough evidence to establish probable cause and send the case to Laramie County District Court, where Moore will be arraigned on those six counts.
Kolby Fedore can be reached at kolby@cowboystatedaily.com.
