Russell Anderson Bound Over For Trial
Russell Anderson, pursued during a high-speed chase on Interstate 25 last month, will be tried in Natrona County District Court on three felony and three misdemeanor charges.
Anderson, who was 30 when arrested, waived his preliminary hearing in Natrona County Circuit Court on Thursday.
He is charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault and battery on a pregnant woman, one felony count of promoting prostitution, one misdemeanor count of reckless endangering, one misdemeanor count of fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison on each of the aggravated assault and battery charges, and up to three years in prison on the promoting prostitution charge.
A trial date has not been set.
He remains in custody on a $50,000 bond.
The case started when Anderson, who was wanted for a parole violation in Missouri, refused to stop for a traffic violation in Mills on Nov. 25, according to court records.
He drove to I-25 and headed south, with the Wyoming Highway Patrol in pursuit.
Between the two Glenrock exits, Anderson crossed over the median and started driving southbound in the northbound lanes.
Due to the risk to oncoming traffic, a trooper fired several shots at Anderson in an attempt to end the pursuit. One shot hit Anderson’s passenger Michelle Essig in the leg.
The chase ended when troopers rammed their cars into Anderson’s vehicle.
Essig told investigators that she was 12 weeks pregnant with Anderson’s child, and was assaulted twice by Anderson before the chase.
While in Casper, Anderson forced her to prostitute herself in order to make money, she said.