A Gillette man has entered a plea in court, where he has been charged with attacking a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper and another motorist with a knife.

Twenty-two year old James Johnson has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and battery, by way of threatening with a drawn deadly weapon, one count of aggravated robbery, one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of interference with a peace officer.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, in middle-May, a trooper approached Johnson on I-25 South, about 20 miles north of Casper, because Johnson was having vehicle problems.

The trooper learned that there was an arrest warrant out of Gillette for Johnson, for driving under suspension.

When informed, Johnson dove into his vehicle to retrieve a knife, then came back out and lunged at the trooper with the weapon.

Johnson tried to flee the area on foot, managed to stop another motorist, and tried to jerk the door open in an effort to get a ride.

The motorist tried to hold Johnson for the trooper, but Johnson was able to break free, and swung at the motorist with the knife, but missed.

The motorist then tried to drive away, but Johnson held on to the vehicle, until the driver stopped a short distance later, and Johnson was taken into custody.

Twenty-two and one-half grams of methamphetamine was later found in the trunk of Johnson's vehicle.

He is being held on $50,000 bond awaiting trial, and could face up to 10 years in prison on each of the aggravated assault and battery charges, between five-to-25 years in prison on the aggravated robbery charge, and up to seven years in prison, on the possession of a controlled substance charge, if convicted.

Johnson has admitted to violating his probation, that was given to him in an unrelated case.

More From K2 Radio