In a packed virtual courtroom with 54 attendees and untold quantities of listeners on another streaming site, Cody Roberts of Daniel, Wyoming, pleaded not guilty Monday to being feloniously cruel toward a grey wolf.
He’s accused of running over a wolf with a snowmobile, bringing it injured into a bar, tormenting and taunting it, then shooting it last February.
The Monday arraignment, which followed an August grand jury indictment, represented a geographical myriad.
Roberts appeared virtually from what looked like a home or business office, wearing a blue collared shirt and answering the judge with “yes sir,” and “no sir.”
His attorney Robert Piper appeared from Laramie.
Sublette County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich sat within his own frame from Pinedale, and Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery appeared via virtual link from his seat in Green River.
The other four dozen attendees listened from behind blacked screens and silenced microphones.
The judge warned the attendees that they were not allowed to record or photograph the proceeding. Many attendees were from “very far away,” limiting the judge’s ability to hold them in contempt if they disobeyed that order, he said. But, added Lavery, if he finds broadcasts of the virtual hearing online it could prompt him to refuse remote access for future hearings.
Lavery took this case at the direction of Sublette County District Court Judge Kate McKay, who conflicted out of the case.
He conducted the hearing via virtual link because of the geographical disparity, Lavery told those gathered in the online meeting room.
The hearing lasted about 15 minutes, and “to travel that distance for 15 minutes doesn’t make a lot of sense,” said Lavery. “The use of technology for short proceedings like this makes more sense.”
Are You Ready?
Lavery advised Roberts of his constitutional rights and the potential consequences of a felony conviction – if a jury convicts Roberts or he gives a variation of a guilty plea.
He could lose his gun and civic rights. Under the animal cruelty felony, he could also face up to two years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
“Are you ready to plead today?” he asked Roberts.
“Yes, sir,” answered Roberts.
“Is anyone forcing you, threatening you, or promising you anything apart from a plea agreement to get you to plead today?” the judge asked.
“No, sir,” said Roberts.
Lavery asked Piper whether there’s a plea agreement in place.
“Not as of present, your honor,” answered Piper.
Roberts then pleaded not guilty.
Lavery said the trial is set for March 9, 2026, in Sublette County District Court in Pinedale.
Not A Flight Risk
Lavery invited Melinkovich to make a bond argument if he wished – but Melinkovich said the bond is fine as set.
That is, Roberts remains out of jail on his signature and promise to appear for court proceedings.
That’s because he doesn’t appear to be a flight risk, said Melinkovich.
“Mr. Roberts has appeared here as ordered by the court, and has retained counsel,” said Melinkovich. “I’ve been in contact with Mr. Piper. I see no concernwith Mr. Roberts not remaining in the area to face these charges at trial.”
Piper said he and Melinkovich “have conferred” regarding an order barring Roberts from speaking with certain witnesses.
They’ve agreed on the terms of that, said Piper, who agreed to submit that agreement in writing.
Why Not Earlier?
The incident with the wolf exploded into international headlines, sparking outrage across the globe from sportsmen and animal rights activists, and it put both the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming’s wildlife management laws under a microscope.
Roberts initially paid a $250 fine for possessing wildlife.
Melinkovich had sought to wage a more serious prosecution in the case last year, but struggled with the evidence he had at the time, he told Cowboy State Daily in an August phone interview.
“It took so long because evidence needed to be processed,” Melinkovich said. “We finally got all the evidence back from processing in November.”
The prosecutor didn’t think it made sense to undertake grand jury proceedings over the holidays, he said.
As January turned to February, an alleged compound bow murder diverted his focus, Melinkovich added.
He requested the grand jury in June, and it convened in the second and third weeks of August, Melinkovich said.
Doxxed
As to why he called the grand jury rather than launching a charge on his own probable cause narrative of the evidence, Melinkovich indicated there wasn’t enough evidence for that.
The investigation had stalled prior because people didn’t want to talk to law enforcement, he said.
“I speculate that (silence) is because of such national and international pressure, and people’s fear of being doxed if people knew they knew information — or were (in the bar) that night,” said Melinkovich.
Witnesses generally don’t have to talk to law enforcement. But a grand jury can subpoena people and make them talk, with some Constitution-based exceptions.
He declined to say whether those reticent sources produced the missing pieces this month, saying that would disclose the confidential grand jury witness testimony.
Though already penalized, Roberts can still be charged with a different law for the same conduct — if the newer charge differs enough in its elements from the citation to satisfy a judge that Roberts’ right against double jeopardy isn’t being violated.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
