A Casper man who allegedly pistol-whipped a girl after accusing her of giving him a sexually transmitted infection will face trial in Natrona County District Court.

Skyler Wrey Hennek, 18, was bound over for trial Thursday after Circuit Court Judge Steven Brown agreed with the prosecution during a preliminary hearing that there was probable cause that Hennek committed felony aggravated assault and aggravated robbery, and misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and property destruction.

Brown dismissed a count of interference with a 911 call because the alleged victim was not making such a call during the incident.

The judge also rejected defense attorney Joseph Cole's request to lower Hennek's bond from $500,000 to $25,000.

During the preliminary hearing, Assistant District Attorney Trevor Schenk called Casper police detective Tony Stedillie who said an officer was called to the Wyoming Medical Center early Feb. 27 for a report of a 17-year-old girl who had been assaulted.

The girl told the officer that she was at a friend's house in the 100 block of North McKinley Street when Hennek came inside, and confronted her about her giving him a sexually transmitted disease when they had sex once in January, Stedillie said. The girl said she was not infected, he added.

Hennek pulled out a pistol, struck her with the hand holding the pistol, took a phone from her hand and tried to break it with his hands before putting it on a counter and smashing it with the butt of the pistol. Hennek also slapped her across the face, Stedillie said.

A friend at the house took her to the hospital, he said.

The girl had the mark of a handprint on her face, a fractured nose and a concussion, Stedillie said.

Interviews with others at the house corroborated her story, he said.

Officers went to Hennek's residence and found a pistol, rifle and shotgun. The weapon used in the alleged assault has yet to be recovered, Stedillie added.

When Hennek was interviewed at the police station and advised of his rights, he said he did not know the alleged victim or the others at her residence, Stedillie said. Hennek added he was home with the two men during the night of the alleged assault.

During cross-examination, Cole asked Stedillie why the girl was at the house drinking beer between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Stedille responded, "good question."

To which Cole added, "fair enough."

In his closing argument, Schenk said Hennek told police he didn't know the people at the house, but four people said he did.

In his closing argument, Cole disputed the charge of aggravated robbery, saying that Hennek took the girl's phone to get her attention. Cole said the charge of property destruction is adequate.

However, Schenk responded that aggravated robbery is defined as using violence while committing a crime of theft.

 




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