Richard Ortega Given Punishment For Pointing A Gun At Police Officers

A Casper man will spend up to four years in prison for pointing a gun at police officers.

Twenty-two year old Richard Ortega was sentenced to three-to-four years in prison, with a boot camp recommendation, after pleading no contest to two charges of possession of a deadly weapon with the intent to unlawfully threaten the life or physical well being of another.

Investigators say in July 2012, Ortega walked by officers in the 2900 block of Harrington Drive and went into a garage.

A short time later, police were conducting interviews on an unrelated matter when they saw Ortega come back outside with a rifle, which prosecutors say he aimed at the officers.

Police told ortega to drop the weapon, and he ran back into his house with the gun.

Ortega eventually surrendered and admitted he had been drinking.

He said the reason why he did not speak to officers when he passed them by was because he was on probation and did not want to get his probation revoked.

As for why he pointed the rifle at officers, he said he was not attempting to shoot anyone, rather he positioned himself to shoot for the thrill, and did not believe he would get caught.

If Ortega successfully completes the boot camp recommendation, the court might call him back for a sentence review hearing.