A Casper man accused of being involved in a May drive-by shooting pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness to related charges.

Matthew Ray Nietert, born in 1993, had initially pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, property destruction, receiving stolen property and possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent.

However, Nietert appeared in Natrona County District Court Friday afternoon and changed his plea to not guilty by reason of mental illness. Such a plea will trigger a mental health evaluation at the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston.

Nietert is one of five defendants who were arrested following a May 19 drive-by shooting at a home in Paradise Valley. No one was home at the time of the shooting.

Four minors were charged in the shooting, including three as adults. 

Last week, in a deal with prosecutors, 17-year-old Quincy Patrick Brow pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and one count of possessing cocaine in a felony amount.

Nietert remains jailed.

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