Montana man bound over on attempted murder charges stemming from attack on Worland officers
WORLAND – A Montana man accused of attacking two Worland Police Department officers with a baseball bat last June will face 2nd degree attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges in District Court after a preliminary hearing in front of Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Thomas Harrington last week.
February 9, 2018
WORLAND – A Montana man accused of attacking two Worland Police Department officers with a baseball bat last June will face 2nd degree attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges in District Court after a preliminary hearing in front of Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Thomas Harrington last week.
Joel Jaime Moreno, 33 of Helena, Mont., was bound over after the state called just one witness. Special Agent Darrell Steward of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) gave an overview of the event that resulted in Moreno suffering a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
Worland Police Officers Chance Maddock and Celia Easton, along with Washakie County Sheriff’s Deputy Colleen McClain, responded to a disturbance call late on the evening of June 26. According to Steward’s affidavit of probable cause, the officers entered the home after attempts to have Moreno come out were unsuccessful. Moreno immediately attacked and struck Easton in the head with a baseball bat, knocking her unconscious.
The affidavit said Moreno then charged at Maddock with the bat. The officer was able to fire one round from his handgun which entered Moreno in the abdomen. Moreno then struck Maddock with the bat in both arms and the back of the head. Maddock was able to push Moreno away from him and attempted to fire another round but his gun malfunctioned. The officer then dropped the gun and tackled Moreno to the floor. After a brief struggle, Maddock was able to physically subdue Moreno.
DCI’s investigation into the officer-involved shooting concluded that Maddock was justified in his actions.
“(Maddock) didn’t have an option,” said County Attorney John Worrall. “His actions saved lives that night, including Mr. Moreno’s.”
Maddock and Easton were treated and released from Washakie Medical Center.
Moreno was flown to Billings, Mont. for medical treatment due to the gunshot wound. After an extensive stay, he was released to continue his medical treatment in his hometown of Helena. Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Moreno on a felony warrant issued out of Washakie County on December 14, 2017. According to a memo from the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Moreno was a passenger in a vehicle when he was recognized by a deputy as the subject of the warrant. When patrol cars made the initial stop, Moreno immediately exited the vehicle and approached officers in a threatening and aggressive manner, telling officers to shoot him. Moreno was restrained but continued to resist and threaten officers.
“Mr. Moreno seems to have a death wish,” said Worrall. “And his wish probably would have come true if not for his incredible luck and the amazing restraint from all officers who have encountered him. This makes him a very dangerous man -- dangerous to himself, to law officers, and to any citizen that may have the misfortune of running across him.”
An attempted murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of 20 years to life. The aggravated assault charge carries up to ten years in prison.
Moreno is being held on a $500,000 cash or acceptable bail bond in the Washakie County Jail. His next appearance will be an arraignment in district court which has not been scheduled yet.