Stolen Pinedale guns recovered; Rock Springs men charged
by Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office
May 9, 2015
(ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING - May 7, 2015) Two Rock Springs men arrested by a special Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office unit in a drug and fugitive apprehension sweep last month now also face felony charges of wrongful taking or disposing of property and conspiracy.
Captain Rick Hawkins said Adam Tyler Fulmer, 20, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by members of the Sheriff’s Office SNAAG team (Sheriff’s Narcotics and Arrest Group), a special unit of county detectives working drug and fugitive apprehension cases. Fulmer was free on bond at the time of his arrest. The second man, Adam W. Benton, 25, was already in jail when his charges were filed.
On April 9, SNAAG detectives and county deputies arrested a total of eight people, including Fulmer, Benton, and three juveniles, on a range of charges that included conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of psilocybin, and warrants for probation violation stemming from aggravated assault and theft from a building (burglary).
Since late March, SNAAG detectives have been working with Sublette County Sheriff’s Office detectives in their investigation of a residential burglary in the Pinedale area, during which a number of handguns and rifles were reported stolen. Information came to light that tied the stolen weapons to the April drug sweep in the Clearview Acres area, west of Rock Springs.
Detectives in both counties followed up leads that led to the SNAAG unit’s recovery in Rock Springs of four of the stolen weapons, a Remington 1911-style .45 ACP semiautomatic pistol, a Sig-Sauer Model P227 .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol fitted with an Osprey suppressor, a Smith & Wesson AR-15-style 5.56 mm assault rifle, and a 7.62 NATO Springfield Armory SOCOM assault rifle. Also recovered was a Charter Arms .357 Magnum revolver.
Officials said the Sig-Sauer pistol and Osprey suppressor were legally possessed at the time they were stolen.
On Thursday, Circuit Court Judge Craig Jones set bond at $15,000 cash or surety for Fulmer, and $25,000 cash or surety for Benton. Both remain in custody as of press time.
Wrongful taking or disposing of property and conspiracy to commit wrongful taking or disposing of property carry maximum possible sentences of 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, on each count.
Hawkins said the investigation into the case is ongoing, with detectives from both counties continuing to develop and follow up leads.
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