A Thermopolis woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a Future Farmers of America (FFA) Alumni group pleaded not guilty Monday and received permission to go to an out-of-state rodeo while her case is being adjudicated.
Cody Dyan Stewart, who is almost 36, pleaded not guilty Monday to 11 counts of forgery and one count of theft — all felonies — during a phone hearing overseen by state District Court Judge Bill Simpson.
Stewart’s private attorney Chris King attended the hearing on her behalf.
The Hot Springs County Attorney’s Office has hired a special prosecutor in this matter, Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen.
Stewart noted during the hearing that she is still employed with the Hot Springs County Assessor’s Office. She is out of jail on a surety bond.
She spoke clearly and politely as she answered Simpson’s questions.
One Request
King posed one request of the judge: that he would allow Stewart to travel outside Wyoming in December to attend a rodeo roping event in Las Vegas, for which her boyfriend has qualified as a contestant.
The trip is prepaid and was planned out months ago, Stewart and her attorney together told the judge.
Itzen objected to the request.
“When we’re dealing with (allegations of) stolen money, it’s difficult to say, ‘please take a vacation,’ when restitution may and is likely to be an issue in this matter,” said Itzen. Ultimately though, it’s up to the judge, the prosecutor added.
King pointed to the rules of criminal procedure, which guide judges to consider a person’s risk of flight or potential to harm the community, when considering bond.
“I do not believe… any potential restitution is a reason to deny that,” said King.
The Deed To Your House
Simpson asked Stewart several questions about her life. He learned that she has strong ties to the community: the same job for six years, a home she owns outright, multiple children of her own and a steady relationship.
He decided to allow her to take the trip, but he did so with stern requirements and warnings.
“If you go to this event you’re going to have absolutely clean hands the entire time,” said Simpson.
He ordered her to have nothing to drink, to avoid people who are drinking, not to gamble at all, and not to violate any other provision of her bond.
Lastly, he told Stewart she must let the Hot Springs District Court clerk hold the original warranty deed to her house the entire time she’s gone.
FFA Alumni Group
Thermopolis Police Chief Pat Cornwell conducted the investigation in this case. He met with three members of the Thermopolis FFA Alumni Committee on the afternoon of Oct. 17 to discuss a report of theft, says a case evidentiary affidavit Cornwell wrote.
The group’s key mission is to support the middle school and high school FFA programs of Thermopolis by financing state and national competitions and building FFA college scholarships.
Stewart had been stealing from the group for three years, committee members told Cornwell.
Stewart was elected treasurer and began serving in that position Jan. 14, 2020, the affidavit says.
As of Jan. 31, 2020, the group’s checking account had a balance of $8,758.52. As of March 31, 2020, its savings account showed a balance of $11,538.30, wrote Cornwell.
The police chief wrote that the committee members provided him with their Pinnacle Bank checking and savings account information, including bank transactions and photocopied checks.
As of Oct. 17, 2024, the group’s checking account was in the negative $640.50, and its savings account was down to $2.95, the affidavit says.
Group members said all their checks require two signatures to be processed. “Several” members can sign to process a check, wrote Cornwell, including the group president and Stewart.
The Tally
Owsley listed checks on which she believed Stewart had forged the president’s signature. Those were all made out to “Cody Stewart,” wrote Cornwell, and they include:
• Check No. 226 of Oct. 12, 2022, for $1,300
• Check No. 235 of May 13, 2023, for $600
• Check No. 236 of June 4, 2023, for $100
• Check No. 238 of June 8, 2023, for $150
• Check No. 239 of June 15, 2023, for $100
• Check No. 240 of June 19, 2023, for $150
• Check No. 243 of July 10, 2023, for $350
• Check No. 273 of Dec. 13, 2023, for $200
• Check No. 274 of Dec. 20, 2023, for $75
• Check No. 244 of July 19, 2023, for $105.76
Lastly, committee members told Cornwell that Stewart altered the written numerical sum on one check made out to her, inflating its value from $400 to $1,400, the chief wrote. He added that the group president said the initials on the numerical change were supposed to be hers but were forged.
Interviews
Cornwell conducted two interviews with Stewart at the Thermopolis Police Department on Oct. 18 and Oct. 20 and issued her Miranda warnings at the beginning of each interview, he wrote.
She said she understood those rights and agreed to speak to him without an attorney, Cornwell added.
The affidavit says Stewart told the chief that she stole between $15,000 and $18,000 from the committee’s bank accounts. It started in autumn 2021 and ended in September of this year, Stewart told Cornwell, according to the document.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
