CASPER, Wyo. — A man charged last month in Natrona County with possession of 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine who had his case moved to federal court will remain in jail until his trial.
On April 18, Quinton James Fisher was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, according to the federal criminal complaint stating probable cause existed to arrest him.
On that date, Wyoming Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer filed a motion to detain Fisher on grounds that he is charged with a drug offense punishable by 10 or more years of imprisonment, that he poses a serious flight risk, and for the safety of any other person and the community.
Friday, Fisher appeared before U.S. Magistrate Michael Shickich for his preliminary hearing and detention hearing. His defense attorney, Patrick Lewallen, told Shickich that Fisher would waive both hearings. Shickich agreed and ordered Fisher’s detention.
While the criminal complaint listed two drug distribution charges, the federal grand jury meets in May to formally determine if probable cause exists to charge him with those and possibly other crimes.
Fisher and Ashton Newbern, who was arrested with him, were charged in Natrona County Circuit Court with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver fentanyl and methamphetamine; two counts of felony-weight possession of a controlled substance of fentanyl and methamphetamine; and two counts of conspiracy to deliver fentanyl and methamphetamine. Fisher and Newbern were arrested March 19 after law enforcement officers seized 2.5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine and 2,600 suspected fentanyl pills from their room at a local hotel.
The case developed quickly in mid-March, when Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agents and the Casper Police Department were conducting separate investigations into the distribution of illegal drugs in Natrona County.
DCI agents identified Fisher as a suspect.
Casper police officers conducted a traffic stop of a confidential source on March 18, determined probable cause to search the source’s vehicle and found approximately one ounce of suspected methamphetamine. That led to DCI agents advising the source of their rights early the next day, after which the source said they bought the meth for $400 from Fisher, nicknamed “Q.”
At 3:20 a.m. March 19, DCI special agents and officers with the Casper and Evansville police departments executed a search warrant at a room at the Sleep Inn and Suites in Evansville where Fisher and Newbern were staying. Law enforcement agents found suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl and other illegal controlled substances, as well as paraphernalia, cash and weapons.
Subsequent research determined that Worland resident Wesley James Page allegedly bought about a pound for methamphetamine from Fisher shortly before Fisher’s arrest.
Fisher and Page are presumed innocent unless proven or pleading guilty.
