Cheyenne Parents Accused of Exposing Their Children to Fentanyl

A Cheyenne couple is facing felony charges after allegedly exposing their children to fentanyl.

According to booking sheets, police were called to Joshua Jesse Bumford's and Misty Dawn Leyo's apartment in the 1500 block of Taft Avenue at 9:56 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 for a welfare check, after it was reported that their two children hadn't been attending school.

Police Find Signs of Fentanyl Use During Welfare Check

While in contact with the family, police say they noticed two metal pipes, each burned on one end, and tinfoil on the computer stand by the door, and when they asked Leyo if they could look around the apartment, she said they could.

Police say when they went into the master bedroom, they found another metal pipe and burned tinfoil in the top of the trashcan next to the bed.

'Don't Take My Children!'

Police say Leyo became emotional and started screaming, "Don't take my children!," claiming that she was simply sick from COVID.

Police say they were also informed via dispatch that Leyo had a warrant out of Cheyenne Municipal Court for failure to appear on original charges of disturbance of peace and property and shoplifting under $100.

Judge David Singleton signed the warrant on June 27, 2024.

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Bumford and Leyo were arrested and taken to the Laramie County Detention Center.

Police say Bumford admitted to using fentanyl within the last day while he was going through the booking process and Leyo admitted that she was detoxing from fentanyl use, which caused her distressed behavior, and that she too had used fentanyl within the last 24 hours.

Leyo was taken from the jail to the hospital for medical attention and jail clearance, and once treated, was taken back to the jail for booking.

Bumford and Leyo Hit With Felony Charges

Bumford and Leyo were each charged with two counts of endangering children; controlled substances, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, up to a $5,000 fine, or both.

Leyo made her initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court on Friday, Sept. 6, during which her bond was set at $7,500 cash and her preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m.

Bumford made his initial appearance in Circuit Court on Monday, Sept. 9, during which his bond was set at $5,000 cash and his preliminary hearing was scheduled for Monday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m.

Please remember that all suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.