Cody man gets 6-8 years for making meth in downtown home

CODY (WNE) — A Cody man who was found to be making methamphetamine in his home in town was sentenced to 6-8 years.

William Hutchins was first arrested June 2024 after law enforcement officers entered his residence at 1502 ½ Bleistein Ave. During their search of his residence, Cody Police Department officers found a reaction vessel and three hyochloride gas generators, “two items (that) are essential in the ‘one pot’ methamphetamine manufacturing process,” according to an affidavit by Department of Criminal Investigation agent Jonathan Reece.

On June 18, District Court Judge Bill Simpson sentenced Hutchins to 6-8 years in prison for manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of equipment or supplies with intent to operate a clandestine lab.

According to an additional affidavit prepared by CPD patrol officer Thomas Wilshusen, Hutchins’s girlfriend, Destiny Abate, informed law enforcement on June 23 that her boyfriend was under the influence of methamphetamine and had left their home. 

Before Wilshusen entered the property, Hutchins returned and was placed in investigative detention. Wilshushen observed multiple injection sights on both of Hutchins’s arms while placing him in the back of his patrol vehicle, according to the affidavit.

While searching the residence, Wilshushen observed multiple pieces of equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine. Further, he also “observed a spoon with a white, crystalline product on the spoon,” which he knew to “potentially be methamphetamine,” he said in his affidavit.

After Hutchins was arrested, he told DCI agent Reece that he both used methamphetamine and attempted to make the drug in his Bleistein residence.

This story was published on July 15, 2025.