CASPER – A 17-year-old Casper girl was arraigned Thursday in Natrona District Court accused of stabbing another 17-year-old girl on Halloween.

During a preliminary hearing, a video clip that captured the stabbing in the parking lot of the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center ends with someone yelling, “Oh shit!”

Gabriella Kathleen Aultman sat next to her court-appointed attorney, Marty Scott, for her hearing on the aggravated assault and battery charge before Judge Nichole Collier. She was wearing a red Juvenile Detention Center jumpsuit and was in handcuffs and shackles.

Aultman spoke briefly with Scott before the hearing and was seen smiling at her parents sitting in the courtroom.

Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen walked Casper Police Detective Tiffany Elhart through the events of that night, recorded in a police affidavit about Aultman’s alleged actions.

She is accused of using a machete-style knife stabs Willow Wagerreferred to in court as ‘WW’, and statements given to police by witnesses at the scene.

He also asked her about a video the police discovered during the investigation from a minor named “HM”

Elhart said the victim notified investigators about a video that was sent to her, and investigators were able to obtain a copy of it and interviewed “HM.” She said “HM” told investigators he saw the confrontation between Aultman and the victim.

“He felt like there was going to be a physical fight,” Elhart testified.

Video evidence

After police reviewed the video, Elhart testified that “the victim’s arms were raised in a surrender position and the victim was asking why this was happening.”

Itzen then told the judge they had a copy of a video to play in front of the bench. Scott objected.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for this hearing,” he said.

The judge rejected it.

Itzen, along with Elhart, Scott and Assistant District Attorney Blaine Nelson, who was holding a computer, approached the bench and played a portion of the 2-minute video for Judge Collier.

Audio from the video clip, which could not be seen in court, included yelling, more cursing, and at the end someone yelling, “Oh shit!”

Earlier, Elhart recounted how police were called to the center’s parking lot around 9:25 p.m. and found Wagner bleeding from both her abdomen and left hand.

She said responders began first aid and rushed the victim to the hospital. Wagner went on to have emergency surgery and faces additional surgery on her hand, she said.

Elhart testified that witness statements were largely consistent that the red Durango registered to Aultman’s mother and driven by Aultman’s friend described in court as AL trying to back into the parking lot while people had gathered to socialize.

Among the group behind Durango were Wagner and others.

No damage to the SUV

Witnesses agreed Wagner kicked the SUV, and Elhart testified the victim told police he did it to let those inside know people were behind them. Itzen asked Elhart if the SUV had been examined for evidence of the crash.

“I wasn’t able to find any damage from the shot,” Elhart replied.

Elhart testified that the Durango driver told police they were trying to get away and that she was the “designated driver” because Aultman wanted to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana.

The driver told police that as they were going to leave with another juvenile, they were yelling for people to get out of the way.

She said she heard a noise as she reversed, stopped the vehicle and put it in gear to go forward when Aultman jumped out the passenger door with a machete-like knife.

She told police she was on the passenger side center console and that Aultman carried her into the vehicle for protection.

Elhart said “AL” told police he saw Aultman approach the victim but did not see the stabbing. Immediately afterward, Aultman got back in the vehicle “and yelled, ‘Go, go, go,'” the driver told officers.

The driver said he didn’t understand what happened at first and that Aultman was crying and saying “he’s sorry he did that,” Elhart testified.

The female passenger in the Durango, referred to as “MW,” told police she saw Wagner “kick in the door and Aultman come out and point the tip of the knife at the victim and they were walking toward each other and the blade went into the victim. “

“Angry and Defensive”

Elhart testified that Aultman and Durango left the scene and were stopped by Natrona County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

In an interview with investigators, Aultman told them she was “angry and defensive” after her vehicle was kicked. Aultman said the “victim went into the blade” and that he “slightly moved his right hand forward,” causing it to enter the victim.

Itzen asked about a witness who said he saw Aultman initially confront Wagner and then re-enter the vehicle to retrieve the knife. Elhart testified that was his statement, but almost all witnesses had Aultman get out of the vehicle with the machete-like blade.

Elhart held his hands about 18 inches apart when he described the gun and, under cross-examination by Scott, stated that 4 or 5 inches of it was the handle. She testified that one side of the blade was jagged.

Elhart told Itzen that “biological” evidence from the stabbing had been collected from Durange and would be tested in a crime lab.

Collier ruled that Elhart’s testimony and video evidence were enough to bind Aultman to the Natrona County District Court on the charge.

Scott asked the judge to reduce his client’s bond from $100,000 cash or surety to $50,000. He argued that his client is in the juvenile facility and that it is difficult for him, as her attorney, to schedule appointments there to speak with her.

He also said her only criminal record was that she was in the youth diversion program for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

He said he understood the current climate in the city with several incidents of youth violence this year, but that “the normal bail for a crime of this nature is more like $50,000 cash or surety.”

Scott also said because of overcrowding at the juvenile center, classes are not run by the Natrona County School District and Aultman may not be able to graduate from Roosevelt High School this year.

Itzen argued that the bond was appropriate and that the incident occurred on a school night without adult supervision.

Collier said she was concerned about the defendant’s “reactions in this case,” but agreed to reduce bail to $75,000 cash or surety under conditions that include Aultman having no contact with the victim or witnesses in the case.

“Do you have any questions about the obligation?” Collier asked Aultman.

“No, your honor,” Aultman said.

The charge of aggravated assault and battery carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Dale Killingbeck can be contacted at [email protected].