A one-time gang member should serve four to seven years in prison for his role in a shooting that injured two men, a judge ruled Tuesday.

In opting for prison time, Natrona County District Judge David Park rejected O'Shea Abeyta's request for a spot in Wyoming's boot camp program for young offenders. The judge noted that the March 29 shooting at an Evansville trailer home could have been fatal.

"It is only through the grace of a higher power that Mr. Abeyta is not facing a life sentence," Park said.

The two victims in the shooting -- Deon Hines and Derric Winters -- survived their injuries. Abeyta apologized to both men, who did not attending the hearing, before being sentenced.

"Even though I'm shackled and dressed in these clothes, this is not who I am," said Abeyta, who wore an orange jail uniform.

Several of Abeyta's supporters attended the proceeding and sobbed as Park handed down the sentence.

Abeyta had already admitted to driving gunman Shane Leonard to the trailer home before the shooting. After Leonard shot Hines in the buttocks, Abeyta drove away with the other defendant. The pair returned and Leonard shot Winters in the abdomen.

Abeyta's attorney, Corinne Miller, said her client drove to the trailer looking for a party where Leonard's brother-in-law had been beaten. However, they arrived at the wrong party.

Miller told the court her client didn't know Leonard had a gun until the shooting began. She also Abeyta had no history of violent crimes.

"We have before the court a 21-year-old man who is at a crossroads in his life," she said.

District Attorney Michael Blonigen focused on a different side of Abeyta, whom he called an admitted member of the Casper Mafia Bloods. He described the incident as a drive-by shooting by a known gang member who was on probation at the time.

"As for the defendant's version of events, it should start with 'Once upon a time ...,'" Blonigen said.

Blonigen argued the state's boot camp program wasn't appropriate in Abeyta's case.

"It doesn't address the violence," he said. "It doesn't address the underlying criminality."

As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Abeyta pleaded guilty in September to aiding and abetting aggravated assault. He could have faced up to 10 years in prison.

Leonard, who has pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.

News Tracker

Last we knew: O'Shea Abeyta pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting aggravated assault for his role in the March shooting of two men.

The latest: A judge sentenced Abeyta to four to seven years in prison.

What's next: Shane Leonard, the man who actually fired the gun, is set for sentencing Friday.