Casper Man Admits Meth Conspiracy, Possessing Stolen Property
A Casper man charged in three separate criminal cases pleaded guilty to seven felony charges Friday morning in district court.
James Edwin Walsh, 35, entered guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine and six counts of wrongful taking or disposing of property. Four additional counts of wrongful taking or disposing of property, as well as one count of theft, were set to be dismissed as part of a plea deal that spans all three cases.
The plea agreement calls for Walsh to serve a prison term of four and a half to nine years in total. Walsh also agreed to pay restitution on all counts, including the charges that were dismissed per the deal.
Court papers say that on Dec. 13, Walsh was arrested by a sergeant of the Natrona County Sheriff's Office on an outstanding warrant out of Mills. During the arrest, Walsh was found to be driving a stolen vehicle. Inside the vehicle, several license plates from other stolen vehicles were also discovered.
That same day, following the arrest, officers executed a search warrant at 4868 Trails End Road. At that time, officers found several stolen vehicles, a stolen forklift and other items.
The drug case dates back to January 2017, when a special agent of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation discovered a drug trafficking ring operating in the Casper area. The following month, a confidential source described Walsh as the "main supplier of methamphetamine" to the group.
Walsh remained in custody at the time of Friday's change-of-plea hearings on $200,000 cash or surety bond.