Casper Young Accused of Stabbing Girl Says Victim “Got into the Knife”

CASPER — A 17-year-old Casper girl was arraigned in Natrona County District Court on Thursday, accused of stabbing another 17-year-old girl on Halloween.

During the preliminary hearing, a video clip showing the stabbing in the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center parking lot showed someone yelling “Oh, shit!” It ends with him shouting.

Gabriella Kathleen Aultman He sat next to his court-appointed attorney, Marty Scott, at the hearing before Judge Nichole Collier on the aggravated assault and battery charge. He was wearing the red jumpsuit of the Juvenile Detention Center and was handcuffed and shackled.

Aultman spoke briefly with Scott before the hearing and was seen smiling at his family seated in the courtroom.

Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen told Casper Police Detective Tiffany Elhart about the events of that night recorded in the police affidavit regarding Aultman’s alleged actions.

He is accused of using a machete-style knife Stabbing Willow BetStatements given to the police by eyewitnesses at the scene, whose name was referred to as “WW” in court.

He also asked about a video that the police had uncovered during the course of the investigation, belonging to a young man named “HM”.

Elhart said the victim notified investigators about a video sent to him, and investigators were able to obtain a copy of it and interview “HM.” He said “HM” told investigators he saw the confrontation between Aultman and the victim.

“He was under the impression that a physical fight was about to happen,” Elhart testified.

Video Evidence

After police reviewed the video, Elhart testified that “the victim’s arms were in a surrender position and the victim asked why this was happening.”

Itzen later told the judge that they had a copy of a video that would be played before the bench. Scott objected.

“I don’t think this hearing is necessary,” he said.

The judge rejected him.

Itzen approached the bench with Elhart, Scott, and Assistant District Attorney Blaine Nelson, who was holding a computer, and played part of the 2-minute video to Judge Collier.

The audio in the video clip, which could not be seen in the courtroom, includes screams, numerous profanities and eventually someone yelling “Oh, shit!” It included him shouting.

Earlier, Elhart said police were called to the center parking lot around 9:25 p.m. and saw Wagner bleeding from both his abdomen and left hand.

He said that the teams arriving at the scene provided first aid and took the injured person to the hospital. He said Wagner underwent emergency surgery and faces additional surgery on his hand.

Elhart testified that witnesses’ testimony was mostly consistent, that the red Durango was registered to Aultman’s mother and was driven by Aultman’s friend, who told the court AL tried to back up in the parking lot as people gathered to socialize.

The group behind the Durango included Wagner and several others.

No damage to SUV

Witnesses agreed that Wagner kicked the SUV, and Elhart testified that the victim told police he did so to let those inside know there were people behind them. Itzen asked Elhart if the SUV had been inspected for evidence of a kick.

“I couldn’t find any damage from the kick,” Elhart replied.

Elhart testified that the driver of the Durango told police they were trying to leave and that Aultman was the “designated driver” because he wanted to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana.

The driver told police he and another child were yelling at people to get out of the way when they drove off.

He said he heard a thump while backing up, stopped the vehicle, put it in gear to move forward, and Aultman jumped out of the passenger side door with a machete-like knife.

He told police it was on his passenger-side center attorney and that Aultman was carrying it in the vehicle for protection.

Elhart said “AL” told police he saw Aultman approach the victim but did not see the stabbing. The driver told officers that immediately afterward, Aultman returned to the vehicle and yelled, “Go, go, go.”

The driver initially didn’t understand what was happening, and Aultman cried and said he “regretted doing that,” Elhart said.

The passenger in the Durango, identified as “MW,” told police he saw Wagner “kick in the door and Aultman come out and point the tip of the knife at the victim, they walked toward each other and the knife stuck into the victim.” ”

‘Angry and Defensive’

Elhart testified that Aultman and Durango left the scene and were stopped by Natrona County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

In an interview with investigators, Aultman said he became “angry and defensive” after his vehicle was kicked. Aultman said the “victim walked towards the knife” and “moved his right hand slightly forward” before thrusting it into the victim.

Itzen asked who a witness was who said he saw Aultman first confront Wagner, then return to the vehicle to retrieve the knife. Elhart testified that was the case, but nearly every other witness said Aultman was initially seen exiting the vehicle with a machete-like knife.

Elhart held his hand about 18 inches apart as he described the gun, and during cross-examination of Scott he stated that 4 or 5 inches of it was the grip. He stated that part of the blade was serrated.

Elhart told Itzen that “biological” evidence from the stabbing had been collected from Durrange and would be tested at a crime lab.

Collier ruled that Elhart’s testimony and video evidence were sufficient to bind Aultman to Natrona County District Court on the charge.

Scott asked the judge to reduce his client’s bond to $100,000 cash or surety to $50,000. He argued that his client was in a child welfare facility and that it was difficult for him, as his lawyer, to schedule meetings there to talk to her.

He also said his only criminal record was being in a youth diversion program for underage possession of alcohol.

He said he understands the current climate in the city, with so many incidents of youth violence this year, but that “the normal bond for this type of crime is around $50,000 rather than cash or bail.”

Scott also said classes are not offered by the Natrona County School District due to crowding at the juvenile facility and that Aultman may not graduate from Roosevelt High School this year.

Itzen argued that bond was appropriate and that the incident occurred on a school night in a section without adult supervision.

Collier said he was concerned about the defendant’s “reactions in this case” but agreed to reduce the bond to $75,000 cash or surety under conditions that included Aultman having no contact with the victim or witnesses in the case.

“Do you have questions about the vineyard?” Collier asked Aultman.

“No, Your Honor,” Aultman said.

The aggravated assault and battery charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Dale Killingbeck can be reached at [email protected].