A Casper man faces up to five years behind bars after being charged Thursday with felony steroid possession.

Thomas Sage Hallock, 32, made his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon.

Judge Michael Huber set bail at $5,000.

Probation and parole officers called police to Hallock's home on Custer Avenue while attempting to do a home check on the residence Wednesday, according to a police affidavit.

When describing the case Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Stensaas told Huber, "He tried to get someone else to hide his drugs from probation and parole officers."

That person, 28-year-old Jamie Renee Steward, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to a felony. Steward, who lives with Hallock, also made her initial appearance in court Thursday.

If convicted of the felony, Steward could receive the same punishment as Hallock -- up to five years in prison.

According to a police, Hallock, after learning that probation and parole officers were at his residence, called Steward and told her to go home and throw several fluid-filled vials in the trash. Probation officers waiting outside the residence watched Steward throw several vials, some of which were labeled "testosterone," into a trash can outside, along with syringes.

Prior to setting Steward's bail at $2,500, Huber asked her if she had anything to say.

"I threw the drugs out of my house because I didn't want them in my house, not because I was trying to get rid of them," she said while crying. "I just can't believe any of this is happening."

Hallock told officers the steroids allegedly found in the home -- approximately 122 grams with packaging -- were from the last time he "got busted" and he had yet to dispose of them, according to police.

During the proceedings Thursday, Stensaas noted several of Hallock's past arrests, which included at least two assaults, a prior drug conviction and a failure to appear in July.

Both Hallock and Steward remained in the Natrona County Detention Center on Thursday afternoon.

Reach crime reporter William Browning at (307) 266-0534 or at william.browning@trib.com.