CHEYENNE, Wyo. — An 18-year-old Cheyenne man is facing serious charges in Wyoming, ranging from allegedly dealing marijuana and possessing a stolen firearm in Casper to aggravated assault in Cheyenne, where he is accused of striking a man with a pipe.
Elijah Kevin Givhan is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Givhan was arrested in Casper on April 16 after a police officer observed a black Dodge Charger with illegal front window tint and a passenger allegedly hanging out the window. The officer found the vehicle on South Walsh Street and smelled a “overwhelming odor of raw marijuana.”
When asked, Givhan, the driver, handed police a sandwich bag containing approximately 10.4 grams of suspected marijuana. Officers also discovered a bullpup rifle, a Glock pistol, a Draco rifle, and an AR-15 with a portion of the serial number removed.
The AR-15 was reported stolen in Colorado. Givhan said he traded for the stolen gun about a month ago.
After being read his Miranda rights, Givhan’s statements resulted in a charge of intent to distribute marijuana.
On the following Monday, he appeared in Natrona County District Court, charged with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of a stolen firearm.
His bond was set at $10,000, cash or surety. During his appearance, Givhan stated that he was “just passing through” Casper and was “just being young and dumb” before being instructed not to discuss the case details.
Separately, Givhan is facing charges in Laramie County for an incident on June 28.
Cheyenne police responded to a physical disturbance in the 4700 block of Pineridge Avenue around 11:32 p.m.
The reporting person, a 17-year-old, informed dispatch that she was taking her 19-year-old boyfriend to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center after he was “beat up” at the Pineridge Avenue address.
At CRMC, an officer noticed the 19-year-old’s face covered in dried blood and a 1-inch cut on his forehead. He told police he went to the house after his girlfriend called to report that her brother, Givhan, had assaulted her.
The 19-year-old claimed he verbally confronted Givhan, which led to a physical altercation in the front yard. He claimed that after he and Givhan were separated, he witnessed his girlfriend being choked by her grandfather on the street.
When he attempted to intervene, Givhan hit him in the head with a black pipe, possibly a lead post, causing immediate pain and bleeding.
The officer later spoke with Givhan at his home after noticing dried blood spots in the street. Givhan stated that the 19-year-old entered the house, assumed a fighting stance, and they began to fight.
He claimed that after they separated, the 19-year-old began to fight his grandfather, who was holding Givhan’s sister. Givhan claimed he grabbed a black pipe and struck the 19-year-old in the head, believing he was protecting his grandfather.
Givhan is charged with aggravated assault in connection with the incident, and his bond has been set at $3,000 cash.