Two Pinedale residents charged together last October with felony and misdemeanor drug charges both had trials set to begin on March 8, in 9th District Court.
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SUBLETTE COUNTY – Two Pinedale residents charged together last October with felony and misdemeanor drug charges both had trials set to begin on March 8, in 9th District Court.
Recent changes in the court cases of Jeffrey J. Brost and Victoria C. Carter, however, have taken each on a different path in the same courtroom.
Brost’s pretrial conference of Feb. 12 is continued to Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. and at this time, he is still on schedule for the March 8 jury trial, according to court records.
Carter has reached a plea agreement and her change of plea hearing is set for the same day – Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
Brost’s case
Sublette County Attorney Mike Crosson asked that Brost’s pretrial conference and trial be continued to give Crosson, Brost and public defender Rachel Weksler more time to negotiate a possible plea agreement.
District Judge Marv Tyler changed the conference hearing but declined to delay the trial, noting Brost never waived his right to a speedy trial.
Brost is charged with felony delivery of meth in September 2020, felony conspiracy to commit a controlled substance offense and misdemeanor possession of meth. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Nov. 12, 2020. Judge Tyler amended his bond amount after Crosson expressed concern that Brost was a potential flight risk with previous convictions.
In 2012, Brost escaped from detention at the Casper Re-entry Center where he was serving a six- to nine-month probation sentence for theft. He had been dropped off at the Department of Motor Vehicles Office and walked away, turning up a year later in Arizona.
He was charged with escape and sentenced to serve 18 to 24 months in prison with credit for 221 days served, according to court records.
Defense attorney Rachel Weksler told Judge Tyler at that time she had not seen Brost’s criminal history or discussed it with him.
If found guilty of all charges, Brost could face a maximum of 41 years in prison and $51,000 in fines, according to court records.
Carter’s agreement
On Feb. 8, Carter’s plea agreement with Crosson and public defender Elisabeth Trefonas was filed in 9th District Court. It recommends supervised probation instead of prison time.
Carter was charged with felony delivery of meth, felony conspiracy to commit a controlled substance offense and misdemeanor possessions of meth and marijuana, according to court records. She also pleaded not guilty on Nov. 12, 2020.
This agreement, which must be accepted by Judge Tyler, states Carter would plead guilty to two felonies and a misdemeanor meth charge and drop the misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. For the felonies, the parties agreed to two suspended sentences of three to five years to run concurrently as two three-year terms of supervised probation.
Carter would have no sentence or probation for the misdemeanor but would pay fines.
Maximum penalties under all four charges could have been 42 years in prison and $52,000 in fines, according to court records.
She and Brost were arrested after an angry person reported allegedly buying meth from them went to the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and complained to a deputy, according to court records.
On Sept. 23, 2020, Detective Karson Turner interviewed the man, who became a confidential informant and allowed deputies to retrieve a baggie with meth residue that he-she allegedly got from Carter and Brost, according to an affidavit.
The confidential informant reported he-she bought meth from the couple the night before and agreed to help with another controlled purchase while wearing a recording device, it says. However, the CI apparently caused a scene the previous night and the affidavit says Carter was not pleased to do business with the person again.
Finally, Carter reportedly took the $100 for the fronted meth from the night before and what was supposed to be another $50 purchase and the informant ended up with no meth from her, it says.
She said she would give the money back if he-she gave the meth back, it says.
“Carter did not supply any drugs then,” it says.
Detective Turner had the informant swear to the previous night’s sale and on Oct. 1 after Carter’s and Brost’s arrests, detectives searched the residence, allegedly finding drug items with meth residue and marijuana, which Carter said were hers.
The informant is identified on a trial witness list as a man staying with Brost and Carter.
