A 56-year-old Casper man accused of driving his 2002 Nissan Sentra up to 100 mph trying to outrun police while throwing methamphetamine out the window now faces drug trafficking and possession charges.
During an initial appearance Monday in Casper Circuit Court, William James Varney was confronted with charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a felony, and two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance stemming from a chase Friday on Interstate 25.
An affidavit filed by special agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s Central Enforcement Team states Varney had been under investigation by agents after a tip from an informant earlier this year about Varney’s alleged role in regularly buying methamphetamine in Colorado and distributing to “multiple individuals” in Natrona County.
Using an “electronic tracking device” obtained through a search warrant, DCI agents monitored Varney leave Casper on Friday in his black Sentra and travel south on Interstate 25 toward Colorado, according to the affidavit.
“Agents conducted physical and electronic surveillance and confirmed that Varney was in the vehicle,” the affidavit states.
Chase Is On
DCI agents coordinated with the Wyoming Highway Patrol and Natrona County Sheriff’s Office to conduct a traffic stop as Varney traveled back to Casper and entered the county at about 9:15 p.m. that night.
When highway patrol tried to pull the vehicle over, Varney refused “while eluding troopers, speeds exceeded 100 mph,” the affidavit says.
After a 3-mile chase, troopers performed a “tactical vehicle intervention” and disabled the vehicle, the affidavit says. During Varney’s arrest, Troopers and deputies found 0.6 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 0.2 grams of suspected clonazepam on him.
A search warrant for the Sentra turned up empty, but officers searched the area of the pursuit and found 1,349 grams of suspected methamphetamine on the north side of Interstate 25 about “75-100 yards prior to where the vehicle had come to rest,” the affidavit states.
The possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine or both. The misdemeanor possession charges for both methamphetamine and clonazepam carry penalties of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine or both.
Bond was set at $75,000 cash.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
