Casper teen pleads not guilty to first-degree homicide

CASPER, Wyo. — A Casper teenager accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend pleaded not guilty to first-degree homicide in Natrona County District Court Monday.

Eavan Castaner, 16, entered the plea before Judge Dan Forgey. Defense attorney Ryan Semerad said they could still file a request to have the case transferred to juvenile court.

Blaine Nelson, chief deputy to District Attorney Dan Itzen, is representing the state in the case. Monday's hearing set a tentative schedule for the discovery deadline and other pretrial checkpoints.

Castaner is presumed innocent until proven guilty or pleaded guilty.

During Castaner's preliminary hearing in circuit court last month, Semerad urged the state to reconsider the first-degree charges, saying Castaner's actions on May 14 were “perhaps impulsive and executed at will.” haste” and not the product of cold consideration.

He said the arrangement to meet the night of the deadly encounter was made between Castaner and an unknown man who accompanied the victim, 17-year-old Lene'a Brown.

The Casper Police Department's investigation revealed numerous provocative and violent messages from Castaner to Brown in the month leading up to the shooting. They had separated in mid-April after about a year of dating, according to the police report. Brown had shared some messages with his family, one of whom contacted Castaner to arrange the meeting at Buckboard Park, off Robertson Road. He accompanied Brown to the meeting and carried a baseball bat, telling police he backed away when he saw Castaner had a gun.

A witness said Brown and Castaner continued to approach each other on the street and “appeared to be shoving each other” just before the shooting occurred. Casper Police and Natrona County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to Buckboard Park around 12:36 a.m. Tuesday, May 14. Castaner went to a nearby house some time later. The suspected murder weapon, a Glock, was found in a bedroom drawer, police said.

The investigation revealed messages from Castaner to Brown, including: “I hope you die in the most painful way possible.” »

Castaner's friend and girlfriend allegedly tried to physically prevent him from going to the meeting. They said Castaner became increasingly agitated the night of the shooting, texting Brown and making murderous statements as an unknown third party began messaging him about his harassing messages and organizing an encounter.

Police learned the victim and his cousin were also accompanied by two 18-year-old men, one of whom lingered with a gun nearby and fired twice after Castaner fled.

Police said Castaner did not mention seeing these other people, but Semerad highlighted them as part of the overall situation his client found himself in while he was in a period of acute emotional distress. There was also evidence that Castaner had been drinking alcohol.

Related