Second shootout suspect pleads guilty
Another Craig man has pleaded guilty to charges in Natrona County District Court in Wyoming, making him the second of six suspects to do so.
Michael Garren, 19, pleaded guilty Thursday morning to four of nine counts: Conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery or aiding and abetting an aggravated robbery, receiving and conceiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
The charges stem from incidents in late 2006 in which Garren and five other Craig suspects allegedly robbed several Moffat County businesses and later fled to Wyoming. There, prosecutors say, the suspects robbed a bar and shot at police officers while trying to flee.
Garren, who pleaded not guilty to the charges in February, apparently had a change of heart. He made a deal with prosecutors in exchange for the guilty verdict. Prosecutors dropped five counts of attempted murder against him.
The court ordered a pre-sentencing report for Garren on Thursday. The report, which will include a history of prior offenses and a substance abuse assessment, will be submitted to the court in the next 30 to 45 days.
Garren’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled after a judge reviews the pre-sentencing report, a Natrona County court clerk said.
Garren is being held in the Natrona County Detention Center on $750,000 bond.
He is the second of the six suspects to plead guilty.
In February, Daniel Merwin, 16, pleaded guilty to three felonies, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aiding and abetting an aggravated robbery and receiving and concealing stolen property.
Like Garren, a pre-sentencing report is being prepared for Merwin and a sentencing hearing will be set after the report is submitted.
The four other suspects are in various stages of the judicial process.
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