GILLETTE, Wyo. — A Newcastle man whom the state accused of threatening two women with a screwdriver received a suspended sentence of between five and 10 years in prison, according to court documents.
District Court Judge James Michael Causey sentenced Blaze Loebs on Aug. 18 on the charge of aggravated assault and battery, which Loebs pleaded guilty to on May 24 in front of retired District Court Judge W. Thomas Sullins. The court document was filed Aug. 28.
According to the affidavit, Loebs was charged with two counts of aggravated assault as he was within striking range and threatened to use a screwdriver as a deadly weapon against two women who were looking for a dog on Jan. 28. Loebs had pleaded not guilty to the two counts on March 3.
Loebs will be on probation for three years. Probation conditions include refraining from violating laws or committing acts of or threats of violence, obeying Department of Corrections rules and regulations, not possessing any dangerous or deadly weapon that the department prohibits, keeping a phone at his residence that the department will regulate, obtaining and keeping a job, not using alcohol or being in a place where alcoholic beverages are available and making regular payments toward fees. Those fees include $150 for the Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund. He must complete a cognitive restructuring class, a counseling needs assessment and an anger management class.
Otherwise, Loebs will need to serve the time in prison and pay a $5,000 fine. Loebs has a month to appeal the decision.
Newcastle’s Christ the King Lutheran Church Rev. Robert Carr said in a Feb. 22 letter filed in District Court May 17 that as Loebs’s pastor since Dec. 18, 2022, he recommends that Loebs participate in the Wyoming Central Rescue Mission in Casper instead of going to prison.
