Natrona County Man Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy; He Jumped From Bridge in January

A Natrona County resident, who jumped from a highway bridge in Casper in January, was sentenced in federal court on Tuesday to seven years imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, according to court records.

David McKeown also will be placed on supervised probation for five years and pay $400 in community restitution, according to the sentence handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne.

On Oct. 24, 2018, McKeown was charged in a federal criminal complaint that outlined how he and unnamed co-conspirators obtained and distributed methamphetamine from January through July 2018.

On Nov. 15, the federal grand jury handed up an indictment that charged him with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

He was free on bond, but failed to appear for a change of plea hearing in Cheyenne on Jan. 16.

Johnson issued a warrant for his arrest and he was seen in Casper that day.

McKeown lead law enforcement on a chase east on Interstate 25, then in Evansville, and back to the highway when he stopped at a bridge over Wyoming Boulevard.

McKeown parked his car, got out, pointed a loaded gun at police, begged police to shoot him, turned the gun on himself but it jammed, and then jumped 23 feet to Wyoming Boulevard.

He broke a leg and was taken to the Wyoming Medical Center for treatment.

McKeown's pretrial release was revoked and he remained in custody.

On Aug. 26, he pleaded guilty to the one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The other counts were dismissed during the sentencing hearing.