A Rock Springs man made an initial appearance at Circuit Court in Rock Springs Tuesday, facing an involuntary manslaughter charge after allegedly killing a woman in a situation witnesses believe was accidental.
Stephen Jeffrey Taranovich, 41, could face life in prison from the charge. According to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, prosecutors have filed to enhance the penalty due to Taranovich’s previous felony convictions. Involuntary manslaughter otherwise carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a potential fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Previous charges Taranovich was convicted of include a 1996 charge of criminal position of a controlled substance, fifth offense, with intent to sell; a 2005 charge for felony marijuana production from Florida and another 2005 charge from Florida for vehicle grand theft. According to the Notice of Intent to Seek Enhancement filed, a person is a habitual criminal if convicted of a violent felony and has been convicted of a felony on at least three previous charges separately tried and came from separate occurrences from within Wyoming or from another state.
Taranovich’s bond was set at $600,000 cash or surety. He is currently held in the Sweetwater County Detention Center.
According to a media release from the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to 113 Pyramid Drive, north of Rock Springs, Sunday afternoon. When they arrived, they found the residence’s owner Stephen Ray Kiskis, Taranovich and the body of 43-year-old Danielle Martin, who had died from a gunshot wound to her head.
Citing court documents, the sheriff’s office release states Kiskis said Taranovich and Martin went into his bedroom earlier that afternoon, assuming the two were going to smoke “dope.” Kiskis went into the bedroom and sat on the bed, while Taranovich occupied a chair across from the bed and Martin was sitting on her knees with her head resting on the bottom of the bed.
Martin had complained about wanting to go home and Kiskis noticed Taranovich had handgun sitting on his lap, pointed towards Martin.
Kiskis heard the gun fire and noticed Martin had been shot. The sheriff’s office release claims Kiskis believed the incident was accidental.
Taranovich told investigators he had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Martin for the past 15 years and had admitted to using “dope” with Kiskis and Martin in Kiskis’ bedroom.
While in the bedroom, Taranovich said he had a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun in his back pocket and took it out to clean the gun.
The release states Taranovich said he took the slide, barrel, and spring off the hand gun and used a T-shirt or rag to clean the gun. When he reassembled the firearm, Taranovich said he wasn’t aware a live round was in the chamber.
The release states Taranovich admitted the gun was pointed towards Martin and he pulled the trigger to release the “tension” on the gun, saying he unintentionally shot Martin.
Taranovich is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing Feb. 6.
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