After waiving his preliminary hearing Tuesday, a 33-year-old Casper man accused of being a serial thief and fentanyl dealer faces nine felony charges in Natrona County District Court.
The charges stem from an alleged pattern of shoplifting and drug dealing during a three-month period from Oct. 17, 2023, to Jan. 6, 2024.
Jesse Alexander Mostaert, who has a long list of theft-related convictions in the city, waived his preliminary examination Tuesday on all charges in Casper Circuit Court.
Court records show Mostaert faces one count of delivery of a controlled substance involving fentanyl, a conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance charge involving fentanyl and a conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance charge involving methamphetamine. Those charges come from an investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation in early January.
Mostaert also faces a theft charge related to an alleged incident at Ace Hardware in Casper last Oct. 17, three theft charges related to alleged incidents Oct. 22 at the Best Buy store and three other stores in the East Ridge Mall, a theft charge stemming from an alleged incident in Mills and an alleged theft Jan. 16 at Rocky Mountain Sports in Casper.
DCI Investigation
An arrest affidavit on the drug charges states that during the first week of January 2024 a confidential informant told DCI agents “that he/she could purchase fentanyl pills” from Mostaert and that he “had been selling controlled substances, mainly fentanyl pills, but possibly methamphetamine.”
The informant under the supervision of DCI agents then “conducted a controlled purchase from Mostaert” in Natrona County, the affidavit states. Investigators also learned that while reviewing jail call logs there were calls to Mostaert by a “known, but unnamed inmate,” the affidavit states.
A special agent “learned that Mostaert had sent what described as a card laced with methamphetamines to inmates at the the Natrona County Detention Center in December 2023,” the affidavit states.
An inmate who knew Mostaert prior to her arrest, told DCI that “she had supplied Mostaert with drugs and now believed Mostaert was obtaining drugs to sell or redistribute from an unnamed but known co-conspirator,” the affidavit states.
A interview with the alleged co-conspirator who admitted to supplying Mostaert with fentanyl pills and methamphetamine characterized him as a “worker” who “was selling a lot of illegal substances as well as firearms,” the affidavit states.
Arrest affidavits from the theft charges allege Mostaert stole a Milwaukee-brand installation driver kit priced at $199 from Ace Hardware and was involved in the thefts of an Apple Watch 360 screen shield, Zagg brand Apple Watch ultra-clear screen protector, Microsoft surface Pen Slim 2, and a red colored Microsoft surface pen from Best Buy.
Baseball Hat Thefts
Mostaert is alleged to have stolen two baseball hats, a New York Window decal, and an Atlanta Braves squish pillow from Pro Image Sports and a total of 19 items from the Spirit Halloween store, the affidavit states.
He also is accused of stealing a Mystery Ranch Bear Spray Holder valued at $31.99 from Rocky Mountain Discount Sports, the affidavit states.
The arrest affidavit related to the mall theft charges states Mostaert has had 10 municipal court convictions on shoplifting or theft between Dec. 10, 2015, and 2020, and two previous Casper Circuit Court theft convictions in November 2019 and August 2022. He has a felony theft conviction from Converse County District Court on Jan. 17, 2023.
Potential Penalties
On his latest charges, Mostaert faces up to 20 years in prison for the delivery of a controlled substance involving fentanyl and up to a $25,000 fine, or both. He also faces up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine or both for the two conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance charges involving fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Each of the six felony theft charges carries a maximum penalty of not more than 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine or both.
Mostaert also faces a misdemeanor charge stemming from the Oct. 17 incident related to driving a motor vehicle on a suspended license. That charge carries a maximum penalty of not more than six months in jail and a $750 fine or both.
Bond on the drug charges has been set at $50,000. Bond on the four separate theft case charges ranges from $10,000 to $20,000.
Mostaert remains in the Natrona County Detention Center.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
