Federal law enforcement officer Richard “Deak” Dollard pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a second-degree murder charge in connection to the death of Lander resident Evan Denevan.
Richard Dollard’s brother and nephew — Justin and Jesse Dollard — also pleaded not guilty to lesser charges related to Denevan’s death. They face accessory to second-degree murder and accessory to manslaughter charges, respectively.
The Dollards were free on bond when they appeared before Sublette County District Court Judge Kate McKay. Before their case was called, the relatives sat together in the public viewing area. Richard Dollard was represented by Casper attorney Ryan Semerad, Jesse Dollard by attorney Zachary Mahlum and Justin Dollard by attorney Valerie Schoneberger.
McKay scheduled an April 7 pretrial conference for all three defendants and a trial for May 4. Semerad, Richard Dollard’s attorney, told McKay he plans to file a motion to grant his client a separate trial date when his case won’t be scheduled alongside other trials.
The Dollards face charges stemming from a deadly fight last month at the Maverick Lounge on Lander’s Main Street. According to investigators’ account of the incident in court affidavits, police responded to a call from the bar reporting that Denevan was “not breathing” and “all purple.”
The call followed an altercation between Denevan and the Dollards, the affidavits state. Investigators say they reviewed video footage preceding the fight that showed an exchange of punches between Denevan and Justin and Jesse Dollard while bystanders tried to intervene.
The affidavits allege Richard Dollard, who was a certified law enforcement officer working for the Bureau of Land Management at the time of the incident, then approached the area and put his arm around Denevan’s neck, choking him from behind while Justin Dollard pulled Denevan’s sweatshirt hood over Denevan’s head. Richard Dollard held the choke for roughly 26 to 27 seconds before appearing to fall and release his grip, after which Denevan fell to the floor, investigators allege.
Officers found Denevan lying on his back in a corner of the lounge near the pool table when they arrived. Bystanders were trying to help Denevan, and the officers began giving medical care. Medics arrived, but Denevan ultimately died from his injuries.
Justin Dollard told detectives in an interview that Denevan had previously said he would “whip” him and “has threatened to fight” him and his son. He said that Denevan began yelling at him and Jesse Dollard, telling them: “If you come over here, I will kick your ass.”
Richard Dollard’s original attorney, Vance Countryman, played and paused a video recording of the fight at the Dollards’ first court appearance in January to describe the altercation. He pointed out that a woman yelled “Evan, stop!”
(Casper attorney Ryan Semerad now represents Richard Dollard.)
Richard Dollard had had less than one drink at the bar, according to statements made at the January hearing. Justin Dollard and Jesse Dollard had less than a .05 blood alcohol level. The legal limit for driving in Wyoming is .08.
Jesse Dollard originally faced an accessory to murder charge. Fremont County Circuit Court Judge Jefferson Coombs dismissed this charge at a hearing last month where the court weighed whether enough evidence existed for the case to move forward, the Lander Journal reported.
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Agent Brady Patrick said at the same hearing that there had been longstanding conflict between the Dollards and Denevan, the Lander Journal said.