CASPER, Wyoming – A homeless man who moved to Casper from New York City last year and was arrested after threatening to “gun down” several buildings will undergo a long-awaited examination at Wyoming State Hospital before his trial.
Bryce Jacob Montesdeoca, 23, was charged in June 2022 with possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent, punishable by up to five years in prison, and violating a protection order, punishable by up to six months in prison, according to Natrona County District Court records.
Montesdeoca was arrested on June 22, 2023 and has been held since then on $10,000 cash bail.
Now he is the next to be admitted to the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston.
The case began 14 months ago when Montesdeoca called 911 and said he wanted to “raid” the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, Walmart, the Natrona County Public Library and a high school. He also said he was at the mission and armed, according to the affidavit included in charging documents.
Casper Police officers immediately responded to the scene at 230 N. Park St., where an officer spotted Montesdeoca outside the main entrance holding a duffel bag. Montesdeoca ended the call and walked toward the officer, who told him to put the bag down, turn away, and put his hands up.
The officer searched him and found a 9mm pistol with one round in the chamber and one in the magazine.
Montesdeoca wanted to speak to the officers, but was at the station.
The officers took him there.
An officer spoke with a mission representative and learned that he was participating in the “discipleship program,” which required attending some classes and completing chores. Montesdeoca did neither and slept through most of the day.
Further investigation, including an interview with Montesdeoca (after he waived his Miranda rights), revealed that he had come to Denver from New York City by train and, after researching crime rates, had taken a bus to Casper. He had been in Casper for two to four weeks.
Because Montesdeoca was unwilling to participate in the discipleship program, the mission asked him to leave the building. He did so, walked across the street to the smoking area, called 911, and walked to the entrance, where he said he was going to kill the mission representative outside.
Montesdeoca also said he wanted to “raid” the library because an employee refused to open an account for him. He was unhappy with customer service at Walmart and would raid the closest high school he could find.
When asked how he managed to do all that with two bullets, he replied that he would buy more ammunition on the street. He also bought the gun on the street in New York City.
A criminal record showed that Montesdeoca was charged with aggravated assault in White Plains, New York, in February 2023 and had a protective order against him prohibiting him from possessing or purchasing a firearm.
He was taken to the Natrona County Detention Center.
Montesdeoca has been in prison since June 2023 and had to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before he could be brought to trial.
On January 26, Public Defender Kurt Infanger and Assistant District Attorney Blaine Nelson appeared before Natrona County District Judge Joshua Eames to order an evaluation of Montesdeoca’s competency as a patient at Wyoming’s only state mental hospital.
On February 1, Eames issued the order.
But due to the long waiting list for admission to the 104-bed hospital, nothing happened.
That would change on July 31, when Nelson provided an update to the court, writing that Montesdeoca had been assigned the next available position. “Once the next release occurs, Mr. Montesdeoca will be admitted to the Wyoming State Hospital for evaluation,” Nelson wrote.
