High Court Upholds Cheyenne Man’s Sentence

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Supreme Court has upheld the nine- to 12-year prison sentence for a man found guilty last year of causing a crash that killed a woman in Cheyenne.

Jason Durkee had appealed his case to the state's highest court, claiming that his right to a speedy trial was violated.

The court's decision filed Sept. 16 attributes the majority of the 630-day delay to Durkee, citing his multiple requests for continuances of preliminary hearings and trial dates. He also cut off his ankle monitor and fled to Washington sometime between the date of his arrest and his trial.

Durkee was sentenced for driving under the influence of methamphetamine and reckless aggravated vehicular homicide in the 2012 crash that killed Linda Gookin of Cheyenne.