GOSHEN COUNTY – A case of a run-away teen resulted in two criminal warrants filed in the Circuit Court for the Eighth Judicial District in and for Goshen County where Jonathan J. Cobert (42) is facing one count of endangering children and two counts of use or possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a certain felony offense and 39-year-old, Ashley Marie Hullinger faces one count of endangering a child. 

According to court records, the Torrington Police Department (TPD) investigated the report of a 16-year-old who had run away from home on November 13. The minor child was safely located in Scottsbluff and she was taken to TPD by her mother, Hullinger, for questioning. 

“[Redacted] reported she was scared to go home because her parents (Hullinger and Cobert) used methamphetamines in front of and around her,” the affidavit of probable cause, filed on November 15 read. 

After the interview was conducted at the department, officers conducted a home visit in conjunction with the department of family services, according to court records, and a urinary analysis from both Hullinger and Cobert was requested. 

Hullinger and Cobert were living in a small garage on a family member’s property and court records indicate, the family member contacted TPD to evict the couple and search the property. Hullinger and Cobert arrived at the property and gave the department consent to search the garage and provided officers a key. 

“Prior to entry, Ashley told Sgt. Sandlian that she had placed several items under the pillows of their bed,” the affidavit of probable cause reads. “She also stated to him that there was a .22 rifle in the rafters.”

“A search was conducted of the garage room. On the large bed, under the pillows, the following was discovered: a pouch containing bags of white, rock-like substance which appeared to be methamphetamine,” the affidavit of probable cause said. “In the center of the large bed, in the covers, was a loaded black and purple .380 semi-automatic pistol.”

The affidavit of probable cause continues, indicating officers found a “bag containing what appeared to be marijuana,” multiple prescription bottle belonging “to people who do not resided there” with multiple different pills inside.

“In the open rafter area of the garage, above the large bed, was a leather rifle case containing a semi-automatic .22 rifle, just as described by Ashely,” the affidavit of probable cause said. 

“A criminal history was run on Jonathan Cobert. I (investigating officer Timothy Cross) was later advised by Sgt. Sandlian it revealed Cobert had been previously convicted of a violent felony, with a pending charge of felon in possession of a firearm in Nebrasaka,” the affidavit of probable cause explained.

Two preliminary hearings are scheduled with Cobert’s appearance at 2 p.m. on November 21 and Hullinger at 11:30 a.m. on November 25. Hullinger faces one count of endangering a child which carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine. Cobert will be facing one count of endangering a child which carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine and two counts of use or possession of firearm by person convicted of certain felony offenses. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment, a $5,000 fine or both.