A Riverton, Wyoming, man who ran for a seat on the local school board ahead of last week’s general election pleaded guilty Tuesday to molesting a child for months.
Hunter Copeland DeVries, 23, accepted a deal from the prosecutor and pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a child in the Fremont District County Court in Lander. As originally charged Oct. 28, DeVries faced between 25 and 50 years in prison for each charge.
DeVries struck a plea agreement Nov. 6. In exchange for DeVries’ two guilty pleas, Fremont County Attorney Patrick LeBrun agreed to drop three additional charges of first-degree sexual abuse DeVries was facing. LeBrun also agreed to argue for no more than 30 years in prison.
The statutory minimum punishment for first-degree sexual abuse in this case is 25 years.
DeVries also may have to pay restitution on all five of the original accounts. The plea agreement doesn't say how much money he may have to pay.
District Court Judge Kate McKay told DeVries his sentencing hearing may happen in late January, depending on how long it takes state investigators to complete a pre-sentence investigation of his life, character and history.
McKay also warned DeVries that she can reject the plea agreement if she wishes and will decide whether to accept or reject it at sentencing.
DeVries’ plea agreement contains a provision that allows him to withdraw his guilty plea and seek a new agreement or fight the charges at a trial if McKay rejects it.
A Confession In Court
In court Tuesday with at least 20 people sitting in the gallery, DeVries confessed to molesting a child younger than 13 over the course of nearly a year, into late October.
He wore an orange jumpsuit and shackles. He spoke clearly and cordially, answering McKay’s inquiries of whether he understood the case.
“I do, your honor,” he said.
The boy had notified police Oct. 25 that he’d been raped.
Riverton Police Department Officer Brandon Brookover responded to the call and spoke to the boy about the incidents.
Riverton Police Department Detective Bhagya Nethicumara interviewed DeVries that night, and DeVries confessed then also, according to court documents.
DeVries remains in the Fremont County Detention Center on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
School Board Candidate
DeVries announced his run for a seat on the Fremont County School District 25 board in an Aug. 15 Facebook post. He promised strong lines of communication, teacher support and efforts toward a well-rounded education.
The day of his police interview Oct. 25, DeVries sent an email to the Fremont County Clerk’s Office withdrawing from the race.
Voting booths in Fremont County contained sheets of paper on Election Day, Nov. 5, that informed voters that DeVries was no longer in the race. But it was too late to take his name off the ballot.
His case had been public for six days at that point. Cowboy State Daily reported on it the day it went public, Oct. 30.
Five-hundred and nine people voted for DeVries on Election Day anyway.
He also won 174 early votes and 333 absentee votes for a total of 1,016 votes.
He was still a far cry from winning a seat on the Fremont County School District 25 board, losing to six other candidates in a race with only four winners.
Contact Clair McFarland at clair@cowboystatedaily.com
Hunter DeVries (Facebook) 
(Cowboy State Daily Staff) 
Hunter DeVries (Facebook) 
Hunter DeVries walks down the steps of the Fremont County District Court moments after pleading guilty Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, to molesting a child at least four times this past year. (Clair McFarland, Cowboy State Daily)
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
