Casper man faces 8 years after biting officers during camper disturbance

Sylvester Jakeson Seaton, 21, entered guilty pleas Tuesday in Natrona County District Court to two counts of felony interference with a peace officer. The charges stem from an incident on April 19 in which he bit one officer in the shin and another in the groin area. Judge Kerri Johnson presided over the hearing.

The case traces back to about 10 p.m. on April 19, when Casper police responded to the 1400 block of Kearney Avenue for a disturbance. A woman reported hearing yelling and breaking things in a backyard. Officers found two men and one woman inside a small camper. One man, 26, was seen pulling a box cutter from his pocket. He later told officers he cut his own arm to test the blade.

Seaton appeared dazed and possibly intoxicated. Officers instructed him not to leave. When he moved toward them, an officer attempted to handcuff him. Seaton resisted, rolling on the ground. According to the affidavit, he grabbed one officer’s testicles and held on while biting his partner’s shin. The shin bite broke the skin and caused bruising. The officer whose testicles he held struck Seaton in the face twice to make him let go.

Seaton continued to fight. He maneuvered his head to the same officer’s groin area and bit him in the upper right side. The officer described the sensation as feeling like he had been stabbed. The bite ripped the officer’s pants and caused a bleeding abrasion. Additional officers arrived to secure Seaton in a full-body restraint. Both officers were treated at Banner Wyoming Medical Center.

Attorney Marty Scott outlined the plea terms for the court. The deal included an Alford plea, where Seaton maintains his innocence but acknowledges the evidence is strong enough for a conviction. The maximum combined sentence is eight years, served concurrently. Scott said the prosecution agreed to recommend the youthful offender program. The judge told Seaton he could argue for a lesser sentence, including probation, at the sentencing hearing.

Scott asked the court to convert Seaton’s $50,000 bond to a personal-recognizance bond. He noted Seaton was intoxicated and that the behavior was out of character. Assistant District Attorney Patrick LeBrun objected, citing community security concerns. Scott then proposed reducing the bond to $10,000.

Judge Johnson denied the personal-recognizance bond but reduced the amount to $25,000 cash or surety. She added specific conditions for alcohol and drug testing if Seaton bonds out. She deferred accepting the plea deal until she reviews a pre-sentence report. The two other interference charges, including the testicle-grabbing allegation, were dismissed as part of the agreement.