Notice of plea agreements for defendants Rhett Epler and Kyle Walla were listed

Monday on an online federal court records database. The documents themselves are not public.John Powell, a spokesman for the U.S Attorney's Office for Wyoming, said Tuesday he could not comment on the possibility of a plea agreement. Attorneys for Epler and Walla did not respond to messages left at their offices.A hearing for Epler to enter a guilty plea has been set for Tuesday before a federal magistrate judge in Casper, court documents show. The same court has scheduled a similar hearing for Walla the following day.Prosecutors have charged Walla, Epler, Joel Murdoch and Christopher Tyson with conspiring to distribute the heroin and cocaine that resulted in the Dec. 2 death of Bryan Guthrie.The 21-year-old Guthrie was the top-ranked bull rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for three weeks last year. He was also the 2003 national junior bull riding champion.The night before his death, Guthrie used heroin with Walla, Murdoch and a confidential source, according to an affidavit signed by David Stevens, an officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Authorities suspect he may have overdosed on the drug.
The confidential source told investigators Murdoch, Walla and Tyson drove to Denver on Dec. 1 to buy heroin, and that Guthrie had pitched in $40 or $50.When they returned to Cheyenne, Tyson was dropped off at a trailer park, while Murdoch and Walla continued to Guthrie's house. Once there, the three men, along with the confidential source, used the heroin, according to the affidavit.The source said Murdoch had brought back 1.5 grams of heroin and about $50 of cocaine.In the morning, the source reported finding Guthrie slumped over on a bed. Medics transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The source identified Tyson as Cheyenne's main supplier of heroin, according to the affidavit. Another confidential source and Murdoch allegedly told investigators Epler also distributed heroin.Last month, a federal magistrate ruled Walla and Epler should remain held pending trial. If convicted, they face the possibility of 20 years to life behind bars and $1 million fines.

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