CASPER, Wyo. — A Casper woman arrived at her district court arraignment on Friday just in time to avoid a bench warrant, and she pleaded not guilty to felony theft.
According to Casper Police Department Detective Ryan Lowry’s affidavit, a 2017 Toyota Tacoma was reported stolen from an east Casper residence sometime after midnight on June 12.
On June 27, a Casper police officer noticed the truck unoccupied and parked in the wrong direction on the street, two blocks from the reporting party’s house.
According to the affidavit, when it was towed as evidence, numerous items belonging to Brittany Tennyson, 26, were discovered inside.
Her ID was reportedly found in the center cupholder, while her purse was discovered in the front seat. The purse contained $200 in fake bills.
Tennyson was discovered as a passenger at a traffic stop on July 23. A separate felony charge of child endangerment with methamphetamine was issued as a result of an investigation into her residence.
Tennyson reportedly told police that her friend Benjamin Johnson had driven the truck when they left Moonlight Liquor together about a month ago.
Less than 48 hours after the alleged truck theft on June 12, Johnson was arrested on an unrelated bench warrant and was still in jail when Tennyson was interviewed. Johnson has not been charged with stealing the truck.
Tennyson told police that the truck had been left at her house, and she began driving it a few weeks later. She claimed that she had driven it to her friend “Jason’s” house and gone inside to use the restroom on the day police discovered and towed it away.
Police found that the vehicle, including the ignition, had been damaged. The “LoJack” device and some stickers had also been removed.
Detective Lowry stated that there was probable cause to believe Tennyson was knowingly in possession of a stolen truck. The theft statute covers the concealment or control of property that the defendant knows or should know is stolen.
Tennyson is presumed innocent unless proven or pleaded guilty. Her arraignment for child endangerment is set for October 29.
