Kidnapper Who Cheyenne SWAT Team Arrested Gets 22 Years in Prison

A 51-year-old Colorado man has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison following his conviction in the 2022 kidnapping of a woman from Michael Bloomberg’s ranch in northwest Colorado.

Timeline of Events

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the case started in the early morning hours of Feb. 2, 2022, when Joseph Beecher, who lived and worked at an apartment complex in Craig, was informed by his employer that his services were no longer needed.

Beecher broke into his employer’s home and stole two firearms, including a Bushmaster AR-style rifle.

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Beecher then drove to Bloomberg's ranch near Meeker in Rio Blanco County, intent on killing him, but only found Bloomberg's housekeeper on the property.

Beecher took the woman hostage at gunpoint and forced her to drive him to various locations to locate and kill another media mogul in Colorado.

Unable to find his second target, Beecher eventually forced the woman at gunpoint to drive him to the Stage Coach Motel in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he could rest and figure out his next criminal act.

Early the next morning, SWAT officers with the Cheyenne Police Department rescued the woman and arrested Beecher at the motel.

RELATED: WATCH: Cheyenne Police Arrest Alleged Kidnapper, Rescue Victim

Beecher was indicted on March 17, 2022, pleaded not guilty on March 21, 2022, and was convicted of kidnapping, carjacking, using/carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and transportation of stolen firearms following a three-day trial that ended on Aug. 28, 2024.

RELATED: Colorado Man Convicted in 2022 Kidnapping of Bloomberg Employee

Beecher will be subject to five years of supervised release once he's released from prison.