CASPER, Wyo. — A 21-year-old Casper man pleaded guilty Thursday in Natrona County District Court to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and battery after he and a friend entered a south-side apartment in May 2025 armed and engaged in a shootout. The gunfire left the intended victim wounded and his friend dead.
Jadin Zander Triplett could face up to 10 years in prison on the conspiracy charge.
Triplett appeared before Judge Catherine Wilking with his attorney, Dylan Rosalez, and entered a plea deal for the May 11 incident with Natrona County Chief Deputy District Attorney Blaine Nelson.
Under the agreement, Triplett pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and battery in exchange for dismissal of an aggravated assault and battery charge. There was no agreement on sentencing.
Wilking outlined the deal to Triplett, emphasizing that there was no agreement on his sentence and that restitution would be an issue that could be argued at sentencing. He said he understood.
She asked how he would plead to the conspiracy charge.
“Guilty, Your Honor,” he said.
Wilking questioned him about the events that unfolded on the evening of May 11, asking if he “agreed” to commit aggravated assault and battery. Triplett said he did.
In a soft voice, Triplett described going to the victim’s apartment with “my friend who passed away.” He said they both wore masks and had firearms. Inside the apartment, Triplett said he “pointed” his weapon.
“Did you say anything to him (the victim)?” Wilking asked.
“No, Your Honor,” he said.
“Mr. Bernard shot Mr. (the victim)?” the judge asked. “Mr. Bernard has since passed?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” he said.
Stolen Pistol
Nelson told the court that the victim in the case “had stolen a pistol from Mr. Triplett some weeks before” and that was the motive involved in the shooting. Triplett told the court that he agreed with Nelson’s statement.
Nelson and Rosalez agreed to allow the judge to use the arrest affidavit in the case as part of the guilty plea.
Wilking ordered a presentence investigation.
Rosalez asked the judge to consider removing Triplett from his bond so that he could become eligible to be a trustee in the Natrona County jail. The judge granted the request.
The Background
According to the police affidavit in the case, Triplett and Bernard went to Foxhill Apartments with Triplett’s girlfriend, Nevaeh Neeman, who pleaded guilty in August for her role in driving a getaway car and helping dispose of weapons in the shooting. She awaits sentencing.
Both men put on masks before entering the apartment where the victim was staying. Once inside, Triplett told Casper police his gun didn’t fire because he had forgotten to take the safety off.
“Triplett stated he took this as a sign and left the apartment,” the affidavit states.
His accomplice, Bernard, 20, did fire his weapon, as did the man in the apartment, leaving Bernard dead and the intended victim wounded.
The affidavit states that at least four people were in the apartment when the pair entered the door and Bernard yelled out, “Give me all your shit, give me all your shit.”
Neeman told police that while walking into the apartment building, Bernard had chambered a round in his pistol.
The affidavit states Bernard had gotten the weapon from Triplett a few weeks earlier. Neeman also said Triplett had a handgun as well.
Once inside, the victim pulled out the weapon he had and the shooting began, according to the affidavit.
A handful of witnesses interviewed by police inside and outside the apartment estimated that seven to 11 shots were exchanged, the affidavit states.
Police recovered two 9 mm shell casings and 11 10 mm casings.
The victim was transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center and then sent by Life Flight to Colorado for further care. Bernard was also transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Pool Of Blood
Witnesses told police that Bernard was lying in a pool of blood on the concrete outside the door wearing a ski mask and in possession of a pistol.
Triplett and Neeman both told police following the shooting that Bernard’s last word to them was “run.”
Bernard’s girlfriend, who remained in the car outside the apartment, said that prior to going into the building, she and Bernard had taken off their religious necklaces, put them together and said a prayer.
None of the trio called 911; they just took off in the car to gather weapons at Triplett’s residence to give to a friend.
The police investigation included a recording sent from a “reliable” and “unnamed source” after the shooting in which Triplett and his girlfriend were heard talking about the shooting, the affidavit says.
On one recording Triplett is heard stating that “KB (Bernard) had his blick.” Blick is a slang term for a weapon.
In a second recording, Triplett is heard describing what he would tell police who maybe would find his fingerprints on shell casings or the gun.
“Know what I’m gonna say? This (n-word) was just in my crib, he got two warrants, and he robbed my blick,” the affidavit states was on the recording.
The affidavit states that prior to May 11, Triplett was offering people $500 to get his weapon back from the victim.
