CASPER, Wyo. — A man accused of a violent robbery at a Walmart earlier this week was sentenced Thursday in Circuit Court to $500,000 in cash-only bail.
Jeffrey Leon Garner, 56, allegedly rammed a woman with a cart, elbowed an employee in the face and repeatedly punched a 61-year-old Walmart teller while trying to shoplift a television. He is accused of slamming the victim into a wall. in his affidavit.
“The brazenness and selfishness of this act is frankly outrageous,” Assistant Prosecutor Sam Forchner told Circuit Court Judge Kevin Taheri when bail was discussed. .
Forchner said the defendant is homeless, but added that the shopping cart the defendant allegedly tried to leave the store with contained only a large flat-screen television and no food or other necessities. Ta.
The off-duty Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was one of the “good Samaritans” who slammed Garner to the pavement before police responded to the incident around 4:20 p.m. Monday.
The usher who was assaulted was taken to the hospital for his injuries. She said she was assaulted when she tried to ask Mr. Garner for her receipt, and she noted that her TV box still had plastic security webbing on it. did.
She told Oil City News this week that she had bruises on her face and a sore shoulder, but was ready to get back to work.
A 37-year-old woman contacted the Oil City News and said she was there with her two children when Garner’s cart hit her from behind and she saw Garner hit an usher. Ta.
She was also taken for treatment and said she suffered internal bruising. She added that the incident was traumatic for both her and her children.
She said Garner seemed “crazy,” and law enforcement officials said he appeared to be using drugs.
Another employee also sought treatment after his injury worsened overnight, according to the affidavit.
Casper police said they reviewed security footage of the incident.
Garner appeared in a wheelchair Thursday and spent at least a day in the hospital before being taken to jail.
When asked if he consented to appearing in court by video, Garner said: “I did not consent to being hit or anything.”
Asked if he would take a solemn oath to give true and accurate testimony, he said, “I will no longer take an oath for this country. The last time I took an oath, it cost me a lot of money.”
When asked if he had the money or other assets to hire a lawyer, he replied: “If I had it, I wouldn’t spend it on this bullish story.”
Garner is presumed innocent until proven guilty or pleads guilty.