Felony Charges Pile Up for Cheyenne Pair in Tow Lot Incident

A Cheyenne duo is facing felony charges after allegedly conspiring to commit burglary.

According to booking sheets, a Laramie County Sheriff's deputy arrested 54-year-old Claire Marie Pino and 25-year-old Joey Lane Stipe at 2310 W. Lincolnway at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

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Vehicle Burglary Leads to Drugs, Felony Charges

It's alleged the two entered a tow lot and stole items from a vehicle.

Pino also reportedly had 12.5 grams of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor amount of fentanyl on her and tried to take methamphetamine into the Laramie County Detention Center.

Stipe's Case

Stipe was subsequently charged with burglary, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine, or both.

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, he was seen in Laramie County Circuit Court in front of Judge Antoinette Williams on the charge.

Williams appointed Stipe a public defender and his preliminary hearing was set for Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 3:45 p.m.

She then asked for the state's position regarding bond.

"Mr. Stipe has two prior failures to appear, one in 2020 and one in 2019," the state said. "The 2020 failure to appear is for an unlawful entry up in Idaho."

"I think due to the history with his priors for unlawful entry as well as these allegations of burglary here now in the state of Wyoming, the state believes that a $5,000 cash bond is appropriate," the state added.

Williams then set Stipe's bond at $5,000 cash.

Pino's Case

Pino was subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine, or both; felony possession of methamphetamine, a crime punishable by up to seven years in prison, up to a $15,000 fine, or both; taking a controlled substance into jail, a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, up to a $3,000 fine, or both; and misdemeanor possession of fentanyl, a crime punishable by up to 12 months in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, or both.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, Pino was seen in circuit court in front of Judge TJ Forwood on the charges.

Forwood appointed Pino a public defender and asked the state for recommendation on bond.

"Going back here to July of 2020, we have a conviction for drug possession, but then there's also a felony conviction for drug and dangerous attempts and conspiracies," the state said. "We have in August of '22, probation violation on the original charge of conspiracy to deliver cocaine. We have October of '22, probation violation as well on that same probation violation."

"You take that in conjunction with the nature of the allegations at hand here, the state's going to recommend a $5,000 cash bond," the state added.

Forwood believed that was appropriate under the circumstances and set Pino's bond at $5,000 cash.

Her next court date will be a preliminary hearing on Friday, Oct. 3, at 9 a.m.

Please remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.