THE FENTANYL FALLOUT: Judge Grants Request to Postpone Trial of Greybull Man Accused of Selling Fentanyl-Laced Pills
Judge will also hear motion to reconsider bond of Anthony Michael Fuentes
- Published In: Criminal Justice
- Last Updated: Jun 17, 2023
Anthony Michael Fuentes, 36, has been charged with four felony counts related to the delivery and possession of a controlled substance, which allegedly led to the overdose death of a 25-year-old Cody man. (Courtesy photo from the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office)
By Jennifer Kocher
Special to the Wyoming Truth
A judge has granted the requests of a Greybull man accused of selling fentanyl-laced pills to postpone his jury trial and consider modifying his bond.
Anthony Michael Fuentes, 36, has been charged with four felony counts for delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, as well as a misdemeanor for possession of a controlled substance.
Fuentes was arrested on Jan. 2, after he allegedly sold two counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to 25-year-old Jordan Jackson, of Cody, who is referred to as “J.J.” in the charging documents.
Jackson’s death led authorities to Fuentes, who initially admitted to selling two of the suspected fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills to Jackson, according to court documents.
On June 9, Big Horn County District Judge Bobbi Overfield agreed to postpone Fuentes’ five-day jury trial from June 26 to July 17, per a request from Fuentes’ lawyer, Christina Cherni.
Overfield, likewise, approved Fuentes’ motion requesting a bond modification hearing for June 23. Currently, Fuentes is being detained on a $100,000 cash-only bond at the Big Horn County Jail in Basin.
Cherni also filed a motion on June 6 requesting that the trial be moved from Big Horn County to either Natrona or Sheridan counties due to media coverage and a Facebook page called “A Voice for Jordan,” which Cherni said has prejudiced a local jury pool.
Big Horn County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Bean filed a countermotion objecting to the move. No ruling has been made on whether the venue change will be approved, with Overfield deeming it “premature” at this point, according to court documents.
An additional discovery request by Fuentes’ legal team filed at Fuentes’ pretrial conference on June 6 to demand that the state turn over the coroner’s report, autopsy and toxicology report related to Jackson, was likewise approved by the judge.
Fuentes’ jury trial is scheduled for July 17 in Big Horn County District Court.
