Roger Johnson Bound Over For Trial On Kidnapping, Other Charges

A Casper man was bound over for trial on Tuesday after a Natrona County Circuit Court judge found probable cause that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted his girlfriend on Oct. 1.

Judge Steven Brown bound Roger Johnson, 50, over for trial on our felony counts: aggravated assault, which is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment; strangulation of a household member, which is punishable by up to five years imprisonment; kidnapping, which is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment; and one count of third-degree sexual assault, which is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

He remains in custody on a $100,000 bond.

During his preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hambrick asked Casper Police detective Shannon Daley what happened when she responded to the Wyoming Medical Center on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 1.

Daley said another officer briefed her about a woman who was being administered a rape kit.

The woman then recounted what happened to her early that morning, much of which was in the affidavit Daley filed with the Natrona County Circuit Court.

The night before, the victim went to bingo with her grandmother. Johnson followed her to her grandmother's residence and afterwards he forced her into his car. They began driving to Wheatland and Johnson alternated screaming and crying, saying she was cheating on him and he loved her. He also threatened her with a large flashlight and a folding knife.

Johnson and the victim returned to their apartment in Casper, where he grabbed a knife and held it to her throat. He choked her and grabbed her genitals. Johnson then took her to her grandmother's house.

Later Saturday, she and some friends went to the apartment to pick up personal items, but many of them had been damaged. She then contacted police.

That night, police found Johnson in a car near a motel.

Johnson's public defender Kurt Infanger then questioned Daley, asking if she had seen any video from the apartments where the victim's grandmother lived. Daley had not, but she said she intended to do so because Johnson told her the victim entered the car voluntarily.

Daley added that Johnson did not seem to be under the influence of methamphetamine when she interviewed him. Johnson was not drug-tested.

Infanger also disputed the charge that Johnson tried to strangle the victim, because the victim had not apparent marks on her neck.

After Hambrick and Infanger ended their questioning, Judge Brown said the prosecution met its burden of proof that Johnson probably committed the crimes and bound him over for trial.