State Briefs

Man pleads not guilty to exposure allegations

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 40-year-old Gillette man has pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts against him alleging that he exposed himself to several people in Walmart and performed a sex act near a 5-year-old boy.

Chad M. Hoskey faces a felony charge of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and four misdemeanor counts of public indecency. His next court appearance is scheduled in June.

The investigation began Feb. 27 when police were called to Walmart around 7 p.m. about a man exposing and touching himself inside of the store.

Hoskey already had been taken by Walmart employees to the loss prevention office, and when police arrived, they found him “visibly shaking” as he focused on security footage from the store, according to court documents.

He apparently would not look at the officer while employees searched the video footage, and he denied exposing himself. While that was happening, the officer pointed out that the man’s pants fly was open.

Employees then found a video of Hoskey in the electronics department with himself visibly exposed. Multiple witnesses also claimed to have encountered the man who was exposed and touching himself in several areas inside the store, according to the affidavit.

One woman said that while in the chips aisle, she saw Hoskey about 5 feet away with his hands near his groin making eye contact with her. She then went to find her husband, who found Hoskey nearby sitting on a bench and touching himself, according to court documents.

Truck driver ticketed after hitting two vehicles in two days in same parking lot

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 46-year-old man was ticketed after hitting two vehicles in the same parking lot in two days with his 2019 Kenworth.

On Tuesday, a white 2007 Peterbilt was parked at Hank’s Bar. When the driver returned Wednesday afternoon, the truck’s grille guard had been hit. Video from Hank’s Bar showed a white semi driving west in the parking lot, then turning south, said Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds.

It’s believed that is when the Peterbilt was hit, Reynolds said. Damage was estimated at $7,000.

At about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, a 38-year-old man reported that his 2001 Chevy Cavalier, which was parked on the edge of the parking lot, was hit on the passenger side door, receiving more than $1,000 in damage, Reynolds said.

At about 9 p.m., the 38-year-old man called the Sheriff’s Office, saying that he believed the suspect vehicle had returned to the parking lot.

The suspect truck, a 2019 Kenworth, matched the truck that was seen in security video footage. There was apparent damage to the trailer on the driver’s side, Reynolds said.

The Kenworth’s driver, the 46-year-old man, admitted that he’d driven in the parking lot the previous night, and that he thought he was too close to other trucks. He did not believe he had hit any other vehicles, Reynolds said, but he couldn’t account for the $1,000 in damage to his truck.

The man was ticketed for failure to report a crash.

Yellowstone National Park announces road opening schedule

JACKSON (WNE) –  Roads in Yellowstone National Park’s northwestern reaches are set to open April 15, though the south entrance will remain closed.

Four main roads will be open April 15, per the park’s press release.

Three will be newly open for the season: those from the West Entrance to Old Faithful, from Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful via Norris, from Norris to Canyon Village.

One is open year round: from the north entrance near Gardiner, Montana, to the northeast entrance near Cooke City, Montana. 

Other roads in the park will open sequentially, according to Yellowstone National Park’s website.

The roads from the East Entrance to Lake Village over Sylvan Pass and from Canyon Village to Lake Village are set to open May 6.

The road from Cooke City to the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is scheduled to open May 11.

Three other main byways are then set to open May 13: those from the South Entrance to West Thumb, from Lake Village to West Thumb, from West Thumb to Old Faithful over Craig Pass, and from Tower Junction to Tower Fall

Then, on May 27, the roads from Tower Fall to Canyon Junction over Dunraven Pass, and the Beartooth Highway will open.

Fishing and boating seasons will begin May 28 and close Oct. 31.

Park roads are set close for the season at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 1.