Casper man, who blurted out “I killed someone” during the hearing, pleads not guilty

CASPER – A 44-year-old homeless man who confessed during an earlier court hearing that he “killed someone” pleaded not guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder.

James Franklin Mavigliano stood before Judge Daniel Forgey in an orange prison jumpsuit with his hands and feet shackled and told the judge he understood the charges against him in the alleged murder of another man at a Casper motel on March 5.

His attorney, Steven Mink, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Mavigliano, who was homeless on March 5, was arrested following an incident at the Topper Motel, 728 E.A St., where officers were called to a report of an “unconscious” person around 10 p.m. When police arrived, they found 28-year-old Chance T. Arias of Evansville dead on the ground.

Mavigliano is charged with second-degree murder, meaning his actions were not premeditated.

Police reported that Arias’ injuries were “consistent with a physical altercation.”

“I killed someone”

When he was first arrested, Mavigliano was charged with a probation violation, and at a Casper Circuit Court hearing on that charge the next day, he told the judge, “I killed someone last night because I was protecting a woman.” I give you all the mercy of God and I do not condemn.”

Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen told the judge Wednesday that a tentative three-day trial date in July would be appropriate for a trial.

Mavigliano remains in the Natrona County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

The second-degree murder charge carries a penalty of at least 20 years to life in prison. Mavigliano is also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance related to methamphetamine, which police allegedly discovered during his arrest. This charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and a fine of not more than $1,000.

Court records show Mavigliano pleaded no contest to domestic violence on Dec. 1, 2023, and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation. He was arrested on December 26, 2023 for public intoxication and told his probation officer that he was “drinking alcohol and snorting feather dusters.”

Dale Killingbeck can be contacted at [email protected].