Three men have been charged with second degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and felonious restraint in the July 30 beating death of Ernest Jenkins in Riverton.

According to Fremont County and Prosecuting Attorney Ed Newell, Basil Blackburn, 21, of Riverton; Vincent Lee Yellowbear Jr., 26, of Riverton, and Sterling Wolfname, 26, of Arapahoe, were formally charged late Wednesday.

Newell said arrest warrants were issued after an investigation by Riverton Police determined that Blackburn, Yellowbear and Wolfname hit and kicked Jenkins in the head and body at a Riverton apartment on the evening/early hours of July 29-30. Jenkins was transported to Wyoming Medical Center in Casper where he died from the injuries.

Blackburn and Yellowbear made their initial appearances in Riverton Circuit Court on Thursday morning. The charges were explained to them and bond was set at $1 million. Wolfname is not yet in custody. Anyone with information regarding Wolfname's whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest law enforcement agency.

If convicted on all three charges, Blackburn, Yellowbear and Wolfname could be sentenced to life imprisonment plus 15 years.