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By Mark Dykes
Editor 

Two bound over on drug charges

 


Daniel L. Ford and Samantha V. Vandervort have been bound over to Hot Springs County District Court on charges against them. Among other counts, both are facing charges related to drugs.

Ford is charged with felony counts of wrongful taking or disposing of property and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, as well as two misdemeanor counts of use of a controlled substance. Vandervort is charged with a felony of causing bodily injury to an officer and misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on April 24 officers executed a search warrant on Ford’s residence. The house was photographed prior, and during the search several used needles were found in Ford’s bedroom; there were several exposed needles and others with caps. An officer noted the syringes are consistent with drug use.

Also located were several spoons with burn marks and containing a white powdery substance/residue. One spoon also had a hard piece of cotton in it. An unopened package of syringes was also located. Elsewhere in the house was found a copper pipe, a “T” shaped pipe, a grinder and green material believed to be marijuana.

In the garage, officers located a four-wheeler that was torn apart — fender kits identified the vehicle as a Yamaha Big Bear — a leaf blower, gas cans and a back seat rest for a four-wheeler. Officers were aware of a theft case being investigated that involved a leaf blower, a Yamaha Big Bear, three two-gallon gas cans and a chainsaw. The items were reported missing from a location about 2.5 blocks away from Ford’s home, and also reported along with the four-wheeler were accessories including a back seat with storage bins.

The subject who reported the theft was escorted to Ford’s garage and identified the four-wheeler owned by him. The owner was also able to note specific things about the vehicle, including a modification he made using a garden hose clamp to secure the battery in place. He further pointed out his leaf blower and air pump, along with two gas cans belonging to him, as his handwriting identified one can was for regular gas, the other for mixed. He also identified the seat back as his, as well as items inside the storage bins.

On April 27, Ford agreed to visit with officers. During that interview he said he allowed Vandervort and Wesley Page to use a bedroom in the residence. A urine analysis was done, though Ford said it would test positive for meth and marijuana and he had used meth that morning.

The cotton found tested presumptive positive for meth and the green substance tested positive for marijuana. The four-wheeler, with the attachments was valued through a dealer at $1,200.

As for Vandervort’s charges, court documents state on April 23 the Thermopolis Police Department was contacted by Deputy U.S. Marshal Carl Von Rein, who had arrested Cody Breeden and Ford.

Breeden had an active warrant out of Kansas for attempted first-degree murder/conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of battery and one count of theft. Cody Breeden was arrested in Fremont County, while Jeremy Breeden was arrested in Thermopolis.

During an interview with Ford, he gave consent for officers to enter his home to search for a fugitive and/or accomplices. There was supposed to be one female subject and two males in the house; one of the men was supposed to be Jeremy Breeden, who had a warrant out of Kansas for attempted first-degree murder/conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated robbery/conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and aggravated battery.

Von Rein, members of the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Thermopolis Police officers entered the house, announcing themselves. Deputies knocked on a door to a bedroom and found it was locked, though a male and female subject had been seen inside the room.

A ram was used to open the door, and an officer saw only the female subject, later identified as Vandervort. The subject was ordered to the ground and did not comply. She was taken down but did not get her hands behind her back. As an officer continued to try and arrest her, Vandervort kicked him in the face with her knee and the back of her heel.

Eventually, Vandervort was arrested for interference with an officer, though in her purse was found a rolled up dollar bill containing a substance that tested positive for meth.

If found guilty of the charges, Ford faces a maximum 21 years in prison and fines of over $21,000; Vandervort faces a maximum 11 years and $11,000 in fines.

 

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