Judge Refuses to Lower Bond in Cheyenne Strangulation Case
A 20-year-old Cheyenne man is facing serious charges after allegedly strangling a household member.
Arrest Details and Charges
According to a booking sheet, police arrested Rumaldo Christopher Padilla at 8:52 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16.
Police say Padilla was uncooperative and they had to use control holds.
Padilla was booked into the Laramie County Detention Center and subsequently charged with strangulation of a household member - applying pressure on the throat or neck, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
He was also charged with domestic battery, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, up to a $750 fine, or both.
Initial Court Appearance
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Padilla was seen in Laramie County Circuit Court in front of Judge Antoinette Williams on the charges.
Williams appointed Padilla a public defender and set his preliminary hearing for Friday, Feb. 27, at 10:30 a.m.
Williams then asked for the state's position regarding bond.
"The defendant is only 20 years old and has a history that started in 2024. We have convictions for meth possession and contempt for failure to comply," the state said. "Take that in conjunction with the escalating behavior here and the nature of these allegations, the state would recommend a $3,000 cash bond."
Bond Set at $3,000 Cash
"Your bond is $3,000 cash," Williams told Padilla. "If you post that, I'll set your bond conditions."
"Is there any way I could get that ... lowered," asked Padilla. "I currently have nothing in my bank account, and I've been a stay-at-home dad for a while now, but I was supposed to start work this upcoming Monday."
"Mr. Padilla, $3,000 in this type a case is a gift," said Williams. "So, no, the court cannot reduce it any more than that."
Please remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Help is Available
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, help is available.
If you are unable to reach out to law enforcement directly, there are confidential resources in our area that can support you:
- Safehouse Services in Cheyenne, call 307-637-SAFE (7233) or visit wyomingsafehouse.org
- SAFE Project in Laramie, call 307-745-3556 or visit safeproject.org
- National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org
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