Pennington faces new charge for tampering with evidence

A 19-year-old woman already facing six felony drug charges was arrested again this month after law enforcement officers say she tampered with evidence.

Mylissa Pennington is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charge in Cheyenne County District Court on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 9 a.m.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Pennington told a health care worker she flushed acetyl fentanyl – an illegal drug more potent than morphine and heroin – down a toilet after discovering her boyfriend unresponsive after he snorted some of the drug.

Dillon Grabowski was taken by ambulance to Sidney Regional Medical Center on Aug. 9 and had to be revived three times by Narcan – a drug used to reverse the effects of opioids.

Two days later, law enforcement officers subpoenaed Grabowski's medical records from the incident.

"Within those records was a summary written by the attending physician," the affidavit states. "In that summary, Dillon Grabowski admitted to snorting acetyl fentayl, which is a federally controlled substance. Dillon Grabowski's girlfriend told the physician that she flushed the drugs down the toilet after she discovered Grabowski unresponsive."

A search of Grabowski's residence turned up a pill bottle containing a white powder, and he admitted to law enforcement that he had overdosed on acetyl fentayl, the document adds.

Pennington and Grabowksi were previously arrested in May after a search of the residence they shared in Lodgepole turned up drugs and paraphernalia.

According to a probable cause affidavit, four marijuana plants and about 3 ounces of dried cannabis, in addition to a mushroom grow and 31 grams of dried mushrooms, were seized from the house. Digital scales and baggies – and $10,000 in a safe – were also discovered.

During the search, law enforcement officers discovered an item they initially considered to be a destructive device.

The item, a firework-type fuse folded in half and wrapped in electrical tape, was later determined to be a hoax device, according to testimony in County Court.

Both had been free on bond.

Pennington was released on personal recognizance for the newest charge. A pretrial hearing stemming from her earlier arrest is scheduled for November. She has pleaded not guilty to the six charges.

Following the alleged overdose, Grabowski was arrested and his bond reset to $250,000 – up from $100,000.

He does not face any additional charges from this month's incident, but has a bond forfeiture hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16.