Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND – A Worland man is facing multiple charges of blackmail and delivery of a controlled substance for allegedly badgering neighbors into giving him their pain medications, according to the Washakie County Attorney’s Office.
WORLAND – A Worland man is facing multiple charges of blackmail and delivery of a controlled substance for allegedly badgering neighbors into giving him their pain medications, according to the Washakie County Attorney’s Office. Michael Scott Claycomb, 60, is being held on a $50,000 cash or surety bond at the Washakie County Jail after an initial appearance in front of Circuit Court Judge Thomas P. Harrington Thursday morning.
According to the release, Claycomb, a resident of the Apple Apartments at 200 S. Road 11 in Worland, is being charged with two counts of felony blackmail, 10 counts of accessory before the fact delivery of Oxycodone, a charge of delivery of a controlled substance – Oxycodone, and a charge of delivery of a controlled substance – Xanax (Alprazolam). The delivery of a controlled substance and accessory before the fact charges carry up to 20 years in prison each, the blackmail charges carry up to 10 years in prison each and the delivery of controlled substance – Xanax carries up to two years in prison.
According to charging documents, authorities were contacted by the apartment building’s manager saying that several residents had reported concerns that Claycomb was “bullying” another resident in order to get her Oxycodone pills. One neighbor told police that Claycomb would badger and threaten the resident by telling her that, “she owes them to him,” until she gives into his demands. The neighbor claims that Claycomb would take 15-20 pills for each refill.
Another resident claimed that Claycomb would come to her apartment seeking Oxycodone and she had given him approximately 20 pills over the course of a year. She told authorities that she felt threatened by Claycomb because he is “a big guy that may be capable of doing harm.”
Other residents described similar incidents where they were approached by Claycomb looking for medications. At least two residents claim that they overheard Claycomb yelling and threatening other residents over medication, according to the release.
Claycomb told the court that he was on disability for a back injury and moved to Worland from Michigan because of the hot springs in Thermopolis.
Deputy Washakie County Attorney Anthony Barton told the judge during bond arguments that Claycomb did meet the element of being a safety risk to the community and especially his neighbors.
“He was picking on weaker individuals around him to get additional opioids which denied those people from the medication that they needed,” Barton said.
The judged agreed with Barton’s request for a $50,000 cash or surety bond stating, “Last year 62,000 Americans died from opioid and other drug overdoses, at least two or three in this county.”
The judge also ordered Claycomb to have no contact with at least eight people mentioned in the affidavit and to stay away from the Apple Apartments unless it was to get his belongings with a civil standby and appointment with management.
His next court appearance will be a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m., Feb. 22.