(Casper, Wyo.) – Thirty-eight-year-old Casper man, Eric Phifer, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of aggravated assault, after he allegedly made threats with a machete in his home, in District Court Thursday morning.
If convicted, Phifer, could serve a maximum of 10 years in prison for each count of aggravated assault, according to state statute.
At approximately 12:35 am Sunday, April 5, two women, mother and sister, allegedly called 911 to report that a man, identified as Phifer, made threats to cut his mother into pieces. She located him pacing in the living room holding the machete while his sister was sitting in the room. The woman told police that she believed Phifer to be on drugs and that is what angered him to start swinging the machete, according to the affidavit filed in Circuit Court. Later leaving the residence.
Phifer was stopped by police, where he initially stated that both of the women were liars and try to get him into trouble. He then changed his story to having argued with his mother and that she may have mistaken a machete for some tools that he had in his hands, according to the report.
He finally stated that he took the machete from the vehicle and had it under his arm when he entered the residence at the two started to argue.
He is currently being held on a $20,000 bond, the court denied any modification to the bond during the arraignment hearing.
Click here for more about this case.