A former Washakie County Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced In Washakie District Court in Worland on Wednesday to between 40 and 70 years in prison after being found guilty of sexual abuse against minor children.
District Court Judge Bobbie Overfield said she sentenced Myron Chatwin based on his abuse against the children and his lack of responsibility for his actions. Chatwin is not eligible for probation. He is to serve three sentences of 30 to 40 concurrently or simultaneously for counts one, two and three of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
Chatwin was also sentenced to between 10 and 20 years each for counts five and six of second-degree sexual abuse against minors. The last two counts are to be served concurrently and consecutively to counts one through three.
Overfield said that Chatwin was not under the influence of any substances and was sober when he committed the sex crimes against the children, all under the age of 13, which caused the court concern. The physical and mental abuse he afflicted as a trusted adult destroyed the trust the children will have for future adults, the judge added.
“A direct apology is lacking,” Overfield said before pronouncing sentence.
Chatwin was first charged with the felonies of molesting the young girls in December 2024. He was soon released and was working in Utah until a jury convicted him in Washakie District Court in November 2025 on five counts of child sex abuse for molesting the three young girls.
Counsel Held In Contempt
The sentencing was scheduled for 1 p.m., however, it was delayed when the defense attorney, Christina Cherni, was unable to be present.
Overfield told those gathered in the courtroom that she knew that they had been waiting a long time and many had come long distances but since the defense counsel was unable to make it in-person, the sentencing for Chatwin was delayed.
“The court had to make a quick decision,” Overfield said. “This case has been fraught with difficulties and the court does attempt to do its best in the circumstances.”
The court decided to hold the defense attorney in contempt for failure to appear at the scheduled time for the sentencing.
Overfield said the sentencing would occur as planned later in the afternoon, out of respect for the families who had traveled great distances and taken time out of their schedules to be present.
Cherni did ultimately show up.
Young Victims
Special prosecutor John Worrall told Cowboy State Daily that this was the end of a long hard case. He said he respected the courage of the young girls who suffered through not only the abuse but through the trial as well.
“It is my last case, and I couldn’t say no since these girls were denied justice for years,” said Worrall, who had come out of retirement to take the case. “It was a reward for me to get them justice.”
The victims spoke during the sentencing. They talked about the deep pain they continue to suffer, being victimized by a trusted adult, who abused them and broke their trust. The children addressed the ongoing abuse they suffered and the fear they said they still face.
Chatwin sat through their testimony without any outward reaction and focused on a computer screen rather than looking directly at the victims.
When Chatwin addressed the court, he became emotional and trembled, pausing often during his statement. He said that after reading the victim impact statements in January, the hurt and damage from his actions hit him.
“There is no one to blame but myself,” Chatwin said. “This is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life.”
His defense attorney, Cherni, asked that Chatwin be granted probation and an opportunity to pay restitution or, if that was not possible, that Chatwin serve the minimum sentence allowed by Wyoming of between 25 and 30 years.
Overfield said that based on the investigation and interviews, Chatwin had shown an inability to accept responsibility and was not eligible for the probation. Overfield said that the court appreciates that Chatwin now realizes he needs counseling but noted that in the past year, no counseling had been initiated.
“Just now realizing how a trial would cause trauma to the children causes the court concern,” Overfield said before issuing her sentence.
Jackie Dorothy can be reached at jackie@cowboystatedaily.com.
