Man arrested after fleeing police pleads guilty

Tracy Warren recently pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance of methamphetamine and a count of fleeing or attempting to elude police officers during a hearing in the Third District Court of Judge Suzannah Robinson.

Warren was arrested May 18, one of many arrests made by the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) around the same time frame for drug-related offenses.

Warren initially appeared before Judge Robinson on July 7 for an arraignment, where he was advised that he was facing six felony charges. Warren faced three charges of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance of methamphetamine, two charges of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, and one charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police officers. Judge Robinson advised Warren that if convicted of all the charges he would face a maximum possible penalty of 105 years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary or another facility, $130,000 in fines, or both fines and imprisonment combined. At the arraignment, Warren pleaded not guilty.

Warren had another hearing on Thursday, October 5 for the purpose of changing his plea pursuant to a proposed plea agreement. At the hearing, Warren pleaded guilty to count four, conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance of methamphetamine, and count six, fleeing or attempting to elude police officers.

As part of the plea agreement, the parties in the case agreed that regarding count four Warren would receive a 7-12 year sentence and regarding count six he would receive a 2-4 year sentence, and that the two sentences would run concurrently. In exchange the state agreed to dismiss the remaining counts and a misdemeanor traffic action with around 13 different counts. Warren also agreed to pay ordinary fees and costs including $200 to the Wyoming Crime Victim Compensation Fund for each count, $75 for a court assessment, $40 for a court automation fee, $10 in indigent fees, $50 for a court-supervised treatment program surcharge, and $100 in restitution funds.

Judge Robinson emphasized that the plea deal is a recommendation to the court that she is not required to follow, and she could choose to sentence differently once everything has been reviewed. If she chooses to sentence differently, Warren will not be able to withdraw his plea.

Because he was changing his plea to guilty, Warren was required to answer questions related to the two counts under oath and give an account of the events that led to the counts.

Related to the conspiracy to deliver count, Warren explained that on January 10, 2023, a female friend of his requested to buy methamphetamine, so he set up a deal and sold her some.

Related to the count of fleeing police officers, Warren explained that on May 18, 2023, he left his residence, saw two men he knew to be DCI agents, and fled from them in his vehicle. As he was being chased down the interstate, Warren turned around and headed back towards Rock Springs, but then saw flashing lights from law enforcement vehicles and ran over a spike strip.

"I knew they were cops," Warren said. "I should have stopped."

Warren said he continued to drive through Rock Springs, ignoring stoplights, and made it to Reliance before his car stopped. He went to the shop of someone he knew and began to run when he was met by law enforcement officers.

Warren also confirmed that he had previously been convicted of fleeing or attempting to elude police officers roughly three years ago.

Warren is currently being held in the Lincoln County Detention Facility. His bond will remain as ordered. At the time of his arrest, Warren's bond was set at $500,000.

Judge Robinson ordered a pre-sentence investigation and will sentence Warren at a later date.