BILLINGS — The four Billings bondsmen involved in a deadly shooting in Missoula earlier this month were not fully licensed, fueling further investigation by the state into the bonding company.
According to court documents, Brandon Wakefield, Austin Mistretta, Jorrell Nagel, and Ryan Smith traveled from Billings to Missoula Billings to apprehend Joshua Wykle of Tennessee; the situation turned violent, and Wykle died after he was shot outside of a Town Pump.
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Wakefield has been charged with deliberate homicide, while Mistretta is charged with attempted assault with a weapon.
Both of the men were only temporarily licensed, meaning that not all of their training was complete.
Nagel and Smith were not licensed at all and have not been charged criminally.
David Sanders, chief of staff for the Montana State Auditor's office, oversees the bail bond program in the state. Sanders said it was a concerning incident in many ways.
"Our office immediately suspended those licenses after that, and we immediately launched an investigation," Sanders said. "Normally, like someone who would be a trainee on a temporary license would go with someone who was fully licensed."
The group was based at the Mr. Bail Inc. office in Billings, which is a nationwide organization with offices in 19 states.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has asked that the business stop operating in Montana, though when contacted by MTN on the phone Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Bail Inc. said they could not comment.
Sanders said the state auditor's office was already investigating the Billings office for using unlicensed bondsmen on three separate occasions at the time of the shooting.
"We're going to investigate all of that and then come up with some action so that... something like this doesn't happen again," Sanders said.
The incident highlights the importance of bail bondsmen training, which is now required under a bill passed by Montana lawmakers in 2023.
"People want bail bondsmen to be trained, particularly if they’re going out and they’re recovery agents," Sanders said.
Jennifer Winschell, an instructor with the Washington-based company Boot Camp for Bounty Hunters, is training future bondsmen in Billings this week.
"At the end of the day, we have to treat everyone with respect and dignity," Winschell said. "Our goal isn’t to hurt them. Our goal is to control them, control the environment, get them in the handcuffs, get them in the car, and get them before the judge."
The hands-on training includes out-of-vehicle arrests, target practice, and an extensive written exam to prepare agents for real-life scenarios. Winschell focuses primarily on the physical aspects of training by also emphasizing the rules of engagement.
"We can’t just run around and kick in people’s doors, throw everybody on the ground put them in handcuffs and then say where’s my person?" Winschell said.
Winschell said the incident in Missoula hits close to home, as all four men involved were scheduled to take her course, but the date of the class was after the incident.
"I wish we could have trained them before we had that recovery. I just wish we could’ve trained them sooner," Winschell said.
(MARCH 10, 2026) Brandon Wakefield, accused of fatally shooting a man near a Missoula gas station last week, pleaded not guilty to a charge of deliberate homicide on Tuesday.
Wakefield is accused of shooting Joshua Wykle on March 4 during an attempted fugitive recovery operation.
Court documents state Wakefield was one of four fugitive recovery agents who attempted to take Wykle, an alleged fugitive, into custody.
Wykle was trying to drive away from the scene when he was surrounded by the men, according to court documents.
Wakefield's temporary license to be a bail bondsman has been revoked by the state. His bail was set at $200,000, and his next court date is scheduled for late April.
Court documents obtained by MTN News provide details about the deadly shooting.
The Missoula Police Department (MPD) was called to the Town Pump on Reserve Street after receiving reports of shots being fired.
At the scene, four armed men were wearing tactical gear. Three were standing while the fourth was performing CPR on the shooting victim, identified by court documents as Joshua Wykle.
According to an affidavit filed by Missoula Deputy County Attorney Brittany Williams, an MPD Lieutenant determined that they were bail bondsmen who had traveled to Missoula from Billings to apprehend Wykle, an alleged fugitive also from Billings.
MPD Officer Hansen identified the man performing CPR as the shooter, Brandon Wakefield. It was noted by police that Wakefield had a patch on his tactical vest stating, “Fugitive Recovery Agent".
Documents state, according to video from a nearby casino, Wykle was in gray sweats and a black hooded jacket. He was walking across the parking lot of the Town Pump to get into a white Saturn.
Approximately 10 seconds after the Saturn turns on, the video shows a Honda Pilot pulling behind the Saturn, partially blocking it into the parking spot.
Two men exit the the passenger doors of the Honda. The male who got out of the front passenger door was later identified as Austin Mistretta.
Documents report Mistretta approached the front of the Saturn and pointed his rifle at the vehicle.
The video shows another man in tactical gear exit the Honda and approach the driver's side of the Saturn and pointing his firearm at Wykle in the driver's seat.
The Saturn begins to reverse as one agent walks directly behind it and braces himself against the car.
As the vehicle continues to reverse, the agent gets out of the way as Wakefield fires downward into the car at Wykle's center.
Court documents detail that Wakefield had fired twice while standing next to the vehicle.
Documents note Wakefield was in a shooting stance and then blocked from view of the camera by the moving Saturn.
Mistretta appears on the video to walk over to the Honda as Wakefield begins performing CPR on Wykle.
Both Wakefield and Mistretta were directly filed to district court, meaning a jail-based arraignment did not take place.
Wakefield remains in custody at the Missoula County Detention Center on charges of deliberate homicide and assault with a weapon. His bail is set at $1,000,000.
Meanwhile, Mistretta bonded out of jail. He has been charged with attempted assault with a weapon.
His hearing is scheduled for March 16.
