K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For June 11th, 2018 – Morning

A CASPER HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE SENTENCED ON FRIDAY TO WHAT THE JUDGE SAID WERE LENIENT PUNISHMENTS FOR THEIR FELONIES RELATED TO BANKRUPTCY FRAUD THAT INVOLVED HIDING $375,000 FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE SCOTT SKAVDAHL SENTENCED JAMES EDWARD KNIGHT II TO THREE MONTHS IN PRISON, NINE MONTHS IN HOME CONFINEMENT, AND THREE YEARS OF PROBATION FOR TAX EVASION.

SKAVDAHL SENTENCED ASHLEY KNIGHT TO ONE MONTH IMPRISONMENT AND TWO YEARS OF PROBATION FOR TWO COUNTS OF MONEY LAUNDERING.

HE RESISTED PLEAS TO PUT THEM ON PROBATION, SAYING HE NEEDED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO PEOPLE CONSIDERING DEFRAUDING THE GOVERNMENT.

SKAVDAHL ALSO TOLD THEM THAT HE GAVE THEM A BREAK FROM WHAT THEY COULD HAVE RECEIVED, AND IN TURN EXPECTED THEM TO ADHERE TO THE TERMS OF THEIR PROBATION AND PAY RESTITUTION OF $374,970 TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

THEY PLEADED GUILTY IN MARCH.

THE CASE BEGAN WHEN THE KNIGHTS BEGAN FALLING BEHIND IN PAYING THEIR TAXES IN 2006.

THEY FORMED A WELDING COMPANY IN 2010, AND DISSOLVED IT IN 2013.

IN 2014, THEY FORMED ANOTHER COMPANY UNDER THE NAME OF A FAMILY MEMBER.

THEY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY LATER THAT YEAR, BUT THEY DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY INTEREST IN BUSINESSES; SAID THEY HAD NO MONEY; AND DID NOT DISCLOSE ITEMS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.

PROSECUTOR STEPHANIE HAMBRICK SAID DESPITE THEIR DEBTS, NOT PAYING THEIR BILLS AND HIDING ASSETS, THEY LIVED LAVISH LIFESTYLE WITH A BOAT AND A VACATION TO LAS VEGAS.
=============================

MOOSE, WYO. (AP) - TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER A GLIDER CRASH IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK.

THE PARK SAID THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SATURDAY AFTER THE TWO PEOPLE ON BOARD FAILED TO RETURN FROM A FLIGHT FROM DRIGGS, IDAHO. THE GLIDER'S PILOT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 65-YEAR-OLD KRISTINE CIESINKSI OF VICTOR, IDAHO BUT THE AUTHORITIES WON'T RELEASE THE NAME OF THE PASSENGER UNTIL FAMILY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

CIESINSKI WAS AN OPERA SINGER AND VOICE TEACHER WHO, ACCORDING TO THE BIOGRAPHY ON HER WEBSITE, WORKED AS A GLIDER INSTRUCTOR AND PILOT, TAKING PASSENGERS ON SCENIC FLIGHTS OVER THE GRANT TETON MOUNTAINS.

PARK OFFICIALS SAY THE GLIDER WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND SOUTH TETON AT APPROXIMATELY 10,800 FEET (3,292 KILOMETERS).

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS INVESTIGATING THE CRASH.
==============================

PERSONNEL FROM THE ALBANY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSOR’S OFFICE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHEYENNE AND FARM SERVICE AGENCY HAVE ASSESSED THE AREA IN ALBANY COUNTY IMPACTED BY WEDNESDAY’S TORNADO.

IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN THREE MILES WEST OF HIGHWAY 30/287 ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND MOVED EAST TOWARD THE PRIVATELY OWNED PETE LEIN (LEEN) QUARRY, CLIMBING THE HIGH HILLS AND BLUFFS TOWARD HORSE CREEK, ACCORDING TO AN ALBANY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE.

A COUPLE HOMES AND OUT BUILDINGS IN THAT AREA WERE DAMAGED FROM THE STRONG WINDS, ALONG WITH FENCES AND PASTURE WITHIN A 12 MILE PATH RUNNING EAST OF HIGHWAY 30/287 FROM THE ORIGIN POINT. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

THE TORNADO HAS BEEN RATED AN F-3 BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WITH WINDS AROUND 150 MPH.

CARBON POWER AND LIGHT ARE WORKING TO RESTORE POWER TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE STILL WITHOUT, AS SEVERAL POLES WERE DECIMATED IN THE STORM.

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

A CASPER MAN WHO WAS ACCUSED OF USING A BB GUN TO ROB TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES IN LATE DECEMBER ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS TO TWO FELONY CHARGES FRIDAY MORNING IN DISTRICT COURT.
40-YEAR-OLD LEVAR ELLIS THOMPSON PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. EACH CHARGE CARRIES A PENALTY OF FIVE TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON.

IN EACH COUNT, THOMPSON IS CHARGED AS A HABITUAL CRIMINAL, HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF FELONY CHARGES IN THREE SEPARATE CASES. INITIALLY, THOMPSON WAS LOOKING AT UP TO LIFE IN PRISON WITH THE HABITUAL CRIMINAL LABEL ATTACHED.

HOWEVER, AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAN ITZEN AMENDED THE CHARGES SO THAT THE HABITUAL CRIMINAL PORTION CARRIES A SENTENCE OF 10-50 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

PER THE PLEA AGREEMENT, PROSECUTORS WILL RECOMMEND THAT THOMPSON RECEIVE A PRISON SENTENCE OF 20-30 YEARS. THE SENTENCES ON EACH COUNT WOULD RUN CONCURRENTLY, AND WOULD ALSO BE CONCURRENT WITH AN 18- TO 36-MONTH SENTENCE IN A SEPARATE CASE.

PROSECUTORS SAY THOMPSON ENTERED WYOMING HOT WINGS ON DEC. 29 AND BRANDISHED A BB GUN, WHICH LOOKED LIKE A BERETTA, AND DEMANDED MONEY FROM AN EMPLOYEE.

HE DID THE SAME THING TWO DAYS LATER AT THE BIG D ON EAST 12TH STREET.

POLICE ARRESTED THOMPSON ON JAN. 21 AS HE ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE THE RAMKOTA.