Bond Set For LCSD#1 Fire Chief, Wife In Child Abuse Case

Bond was set at $15,000 cash each on Tuesday by Circuit Court Judge Antoinette Williams for the Fire Chief of Laramie County Fire District#1 and his wife on charges of aggravated child abuse and conspiracy.

According to Laramie County Sheriff's Office spokesman Brandon Warner, as of 2:30 on Tuesday afternoon 49-year-old Darrick Mittlestadt and his 48-year-old wife Angela remained in custody at the Laramie County Detention Center.

Couple Turned Themselves In

The Mittlestadts turned themselves in on Monday afternoon.

According to the affidavit in the case, the charges involve a son they adopted in 2019 while the family was living in Colorado. Darrick Mittelstadt allegedly admitted to investigators that the boy was ''wafer thin" and that he and his wife hadn't taken the boy to outside activities or to visit relatives in a couple of years due to his appearance.

Angela Mittlestadt allegedly said she originally thought she could help the boy, But she later came to the conclusion that it wouldn't work out, in part because the boy lied and refused to do any work.

The boy was allegedly taken to Colorado Children's Hospital in late June, weighing 55 pounds at age 13.

Under Wyoming law, aggravated child abuse can carry a penalty of up to 25 years in prison. Conspiracy carries a potential sentence of the crime being conspired to commit, so that could mean an additional 25-year maximum sentence.