Cheyenne bank robber gets 40 months in prison
A 43-year-old man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court of Wyoming to 40 months in prison for robbing a credit union in Cheyenne last year.
Christopher D. Bandstra, a Colorado transient, had earlier pleaded guilty to a single count of bank robbery.
U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson last week accepted a plea agreement in the case that includes five years of probation and more than $2,600 in restitution.
The judge noted Bandstra’s mental state at the time of the incident.
Bandstra apologized to the bank teller at his sentencing hearing, noting that she was just doing her job when he made her fear for her life.
Man accused of sexual assault potentially faces life in prison
An Albany County man accused of allegedly sexually abusing a teenage boy stood trial on Monday, April 24 in Albany County District Court.
Kenneth Matthew Lovato is charged with one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, a charge which he has been previously convicted of twice, once in New Mexico and once in California in 1996.
Lovato was arrested in July after Albany County Sheriff’s deputies investigated complaints. According to court documents, Lovato gave the victim alcohol and pills before sexually abusing him.
According to court documents, deputies arrested Lovato on July 13 after the victim told deputies Lovato gave him drugs and alcohol and then sexually abused him on July 10.
According to the affidavit, Lovato gave the victim vodka and pills described as “baby oxy” before allegedly abusing the victim. Investigating deputies then found evidence at both Lovato’s cabin in Jelm and the victim’s home.
Initially, defense attorney Randy Hiller asked Judge Donnell to change Lovato’s $50,000 cash bond to be set to cash or commercial, stating that Lovato had complied with court and attended all of his court hearings.
However, Donnell refused to modify Lovato’s bond, but said he had other concerns besides the potential flight risk.
“I have no problem at all saying I am very much concerned about issues of public safety,” Donnell said.
Lovato later pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial is scheduled to run through Friday, April 28.
If convicted of the charges, Lovato could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Branding Iron was unable to get the court reading from today’s trial. An update on the proceedings will be published as information becomes available.
