K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For May 17th, 2018 – Morning

A WOMAN WHO USED TO WORK INSIDE CASPER CITY HALL ADMITTED ON WEDNESDAY THAT SHE STOLE NEARLY $20,000 DURING THE TERM OF HER EMPLOYMENT.

39-YEAR-OLD HEATHER MARIE KIRKENDALL PLEADED GUILTY TO A SINGLE COUNT OF FELONY THEFT. THE CHARGE CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THE GUILTY PLEA, PROSECUTORS WILL RECOMMEND THAT KIRKENDALL RECEIVE A SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE OF TWO TO FOUR YEARS AND THREE YEARS OF PROBATION. IF KIRKENDALL HAS FULLY PAID RESTITUTION BEFORE THE SENTENCING HEARING, WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN SCHEDULED, THE PROSECUTION WOULD RECOMMEND A SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE OF 18-36 MONTHS.

CHARGING PAPERS SAY SPECIAL AGENTS BEGAN INVESTIGATING ON NOV. 15 AND MET WITH CITY SUPERVISORS WHO EXPLAINED THAT PAYMENT "IRREGULARITIES" HAD BEEN DISCOVERED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH WAS UNACCOUNTED FOR TOTALED JUST OVER $19,400.

KIRKENDALL REMAINED FREE ON BOND AT THE TIME OF THE COURT HEARING.
===================================

CASPER, WYO. (AP) - CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR TELL A BUSINESS ADVOCACY GROUP WYOMING HAS A LOT OF OPTIONS TO BOOST ITS ECONOMY...

========================================

THE WIDOW OF A UTAH TRAIN WORKER KIDNAPPED AND KILLED ON THE JOB SAYS IN A LAWSUIT THE STATE AGENCY HE WORKED FOR FAILED TO PROTECT HIM.

THE SUIT SAYS THE UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY DIDN'T ACT ON REPEATED WARNINGS ABOUT THE DANGERS FACED BY SOLO WORKERS AND DIDN'T RESPOND QUICKLY TO A PANIC BUTTON HE HIT THE NIGHT HE WAS ASSAULTED.

AGENCY SPOKESMAN CARL ARKY DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE CLAIMS TUESDAY, SAYING THE AGENCY HASN'T SEEN THE LAWSUIT YET.

WORKER KAY RICKS WAS GRABBED NEAR A LIGHT-RAIL STATION IN 2016 BY TWO MEN ON THE RUN FROM POLICE.

THEY DROVE NORTH TO WYOMING WITH RICKS IN THE BACK, THEN PULLED OFF A RURAL DIRT ROAD AND BEAT HIM TO DEATH.

HIS BODY WAS FOUND FIVE DAYS AFTER HIS DISAPPEARANCE.
====================================

A MILLS MAN FACES A FELONY CHARGE AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING A YOUNG GIRL WITH A BB GUN AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES.

JOHN THELLMAN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF CHILD ABUSE TUESDAY MORNING IN DISTRICT COURT. THE CHARGE CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

CHARGING DOCUMENTS SAY A POLICE OFFICER WAS SENT TO THE LARIAT TRAILER PARK ON AUG. 21 SHORTLY BEFORE 7 P.M., AFTER THE CHILD'S MOTHER REPORTED THAT THELLMAN HAD ACCIDENTLY SHOT HER ADOPTIVE DAUGHTER.

FIRST RESPONDERS CONFIRMED THAT THE CHILD WAS HIT TWICE: ONCE IN THE JAW AND ONCE IN HER RIGHT BREAST.

THELLMAN WAS REPORTEDLY INTOXICATED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, AND POLICE FOUND HIM IN SUCH A STATE WHEN THEY SPOKE WITH HIM.

THE CHILD'S MOTHER TOLD POLICE THAT THELLMAN HAD BEEN INSIDE THE TRAILER HOME PLAYING WITH HIS BB GUN WHILE TWO CHILDREN PLAYED OUTSIDE. THELLMAN SAID HE HAD BEEN SHOOTING AT THE FRONT DOOR FOR AWHILE WHEN ONE OF HIS NIECES OPENED THE DOOR AND WAS HIT BY A BB PELLET.

HOWEVER, POLICE NOTE, THE CHILD WAS HIT BY TWO PELLETS.

THE TWO BBS WERE SURGICALLY REMOVED FROM THE CHILD AT MOUNTAIN VIEW REGIONAL HOSPITAL.

IN A FORENSIC INTERVIEW AT THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY PROJECT, THE CHILD SAID "UNCLE SHOT ME," LATER FOLLOWING WITH, "BECAUSE I OPENED THE DOOR AND HE WAS MAD."

THELLMAN REMAINS FREE ON BOND.