The mayor of Cody, Wyoming, spent the weekend in the Park County Detention Center after her arrest early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Lee Ann Reiter, 65, made her first court appearance Park County Circuit Court on Monday afternoon, about eight hours after her release in from jail at 5:23 a.m.
Reiter was stopped in the 700 block of Sheridan Avenue by a Park County Sheriff’s Office deputy on an unspecified traffic violation at 2:07 a.m. Saturday, said department communication supervisor Monte McClain.
Details about the stop weren’t available prior to Reiter’s court appearance, he said, but field sobriety tests were performed and her blood alcohol content measured above the legal limit of 0.08%.
State law says that people can’t be held longer than 48 hours without seeing a judge after their arrest, McClain said. Because Reiter’s happened so early on a weekend, she remained in the Park County jail through early Monday morning.
Not Guilty
Making her first court appearance virtually with attorney Brigita Krisjansons, Reiter waived advisement of the three charges against her and entered pleas of not guilty.
She also is allowed to remain free on a personal recognizance bond with stipulations she doesn’t drink alcohol, go to bars or other alcohol-related businesses and not possess any alcohol.
She did get an exception for attending function in her capacity as Cody’s mayor.
“With my client being the mayor, there are times when she’d be going to functions where alcohol is served,” Krisjansons explained.
Deputy county attorney Larry Eichele said he’s fine with those conditions, “just no drinking.”
No Comment
Reiter did not respond to a message for comment prior to this story being published.
Cody City Council members contacted by Cowboy State Daily said they are aware of the situation and declined to comment, referring questions to City Administrator Tony Tolstedt.
Tolstedt said the city isn’t commenting on the incident at this time.
Councilman Don Shreve said he had no comment on the mayor’s arrest other than, “That is a personal matter with the mayor.”
Reiter was elected to the Cody City Council in 2023, then ran for mayor in 2024, beating challenger Chuck Struemke by a landslide in November’s general election, getting more than 73% of the vote.
Reiter’s case was set for a Dec. 11 jury trial.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
