Clair McFarland
Clair McFarland is a general assignment reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Riverton, Wyoming. She specializes in crime and court reporting and social issues coverage. Clair also writes a twice-monthly column on motherhood and country living.
Previously, Clair wrote for The Ranger, the Lander Journal and the Wind River News. She is an award-winning journalist, columnist and poet, who joined Cowboy State Daily on Valentine's Day, 2022.
Latest from Clair McFarland
Rawlins Man Accused Of Molesting Young Girls Could Get 680 Years In Prison
A Rawlins man accused of molesting two 5-year-old girls and a 6-year-old reportedly told police he’s sexually attracted to children and described the ways he has molested a child in the past. He could get 680 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2024
Lusk School Board Member Censured For Online 'Threat' To District Employee
A Niobrara County School Board member was censured after telling an employee, “I hope you never piss anyone off,” and that she had intel that could cause the employee trouble.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2024
Casper Police Chief Pushes For Anti-Squatting Laws In Wyoming
Casper’s police chief told legislators Tuesday that Wyoming needs criminal laws and penalties to fight a growing squatting problem that’s victimizing home and property owners in his city and around the state.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2024
Suspect In Disappearance Of Cody Woman Strikes Plea On Federal Gun Charge
The on-and-off-boyfriend and suspect in the disappearance of a Cody woman reached a plea deal Friday on a separate federal gun violation that could keep him in jail for years. The woman has been missing since Oct. 5.
Clair McFarlandJune 18, 2024
Wyoming Man Was Talking To Demons While Vandalizing Building, Deputy Says
An Upton man was reportedly talking to demons when vandalizing a local business at 3 a.m. earlier this month. When deputies caught up with him, he told them, “I’m not in the mood for this.” He has been charged with felony level property destruction
Clair McFarlandJune 18, 2024
Witnesses Say Sheridan Woman Pulled Knife After Twerking Battle Gone Wrong
The drinking buddies of a 30-year-old woman in Sheridan say she swung a knife at them after a "twerking battle" ended poorly at her home. The woman's arraignment is set for next month.
Clair McFarlandJune 17, 2024
Searchers Find Kayak And Paddle, But Not Missing Kayaker On Jackson Lake
A search continues Monday for a Minnesota kayaker who went missing on Jackson Lake on Saturday. His kayak and paddle have been found, but the man is still missing.
Clair McFarlandJune 17, 2024
Meet Ashlea Roberts: The Rattlesnake Wrangler Of Rawlins, Wyoming
Rattlesnakes populate about two-thirds of Carbon County in southern Wyoming. When people there encounter the pit vipers, they call Ashlea Roberts, the rattlesnake wrangler of Rawlins.
Clair McFarlandJune 14, 2024
Wyoming Delegation Says Supreme Court Was Right To Shoot Down Bump Stock Ban
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to shoot down a Trump administration ban on bump stocks for semiautomatic weapons on Friday is being hailed by Wyoming’s U.S. senators as a victory for the Second Amendment.
Clair McFarlandJune 14, 2024
Arapahoe Woman Guilty Of Torturing Teen Son, Keeping Him In Crawl Space
After a four-day trial, a jury found Kandace Sitting Eagle of Arapahoe, Wyoming, guilty Thursday of torturing her teen son, amid evidence she helped hide him from authorities in a crawl space. Her husband has also pleaded guilty to the abuse.
Clair McFarlandJune 14, 2024
Florida Man Who Swiped Fire Truck Accused Of Wrecking Stolen Semi In Wyoming
A man once found "buck-ass naked" in a Florida firehouse before swiping a fire department's truck is now facing felony charges for allegedly stealing a semitruck from Colorado, driving it through Wyoming and then wrecking it.
Clair McFarlandJune 13, 2024
Men Who Claimed Forced Labor, Trafficking By Wyoming Youth Ranch Agree To Settlement
Two men who were former residents at the Triangle Cross Ranch for troubled teens in Park County and who sued over claims of forced labor and trafficking will drop their lawsuit over the allegations after reaching a settlement.
Clair McFarlandJune 13, 2024
Federal Court Dismisses Complaint Over Wyoming Transgender Sorority Member
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday dismissed an appeal of University of Wyoming sorority members who sued over the induction of a transgender member. The court said the women have the option of filing a new complaint, however.
Clair McFarlandJune 13, 2024
Life Without Parole For Kemmerer Babysitter Who Beat 5-Year-Old To Death
Cheri Marler, the Kemmerer babysitter who beat a 5-year-old girl to death, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday during an emotionally charged sentencing hearing.
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2024
After Year On The Run, Man Accused Of Breaking Laramie Woman’s Face Is Caught
After punching a Laramie woman in the face so hard he broke her jaw “from ear to ear,” a 60-year-old drifter has been on the run for almost a year — until Tuesday, when he was caught in Colorado.
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2024
80-Year-Old Montana Man Gets Two Months In Jail For Killing Grizzly, Evidence Tampering
An 80-year-old Montana man was told Tuesday he’ll serve two months in jail and pay a $10,000 fine after covering up the killing of a grizzly bear on his property. The sentence was stiffer than both the defense and prosecution had agreed to prior.
Clair McFarlandJune 12, 2024
Wyoming Dems Call Barrasso Anti-Woman For Helping Block So-Called "Contraception Rights Act"
The Wyoming Democratic Party said Sen. John Barrasso is anti-woman for his Monday vote against the so-called Right to Contraception Act. He said the bill would have funneled taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood and created a federal right to oral abortion drugs.
Clair McFarlandJune 11, 2024
Badly Burned Wyoming Oil Field Workers Sue Over Back-To-Back Explosions
A piece of equipment allegedly exploded in the face of a Wyoming oil field worker in mid-December. Six weeks later the equipment allegedly exploded again, seriously burning a second worker. Both filed suit against Anschutz Exploration Corp on Monday.
Clair McFarlandJune 11, 2024
Judge Balks At 5-7 Years For Man Who Trafficked Porn Involving Infants And Dogs
A Wyoming judge said Tuesday she has doubts about whether she’ll accept a plea agreement of 5-7 years in prison for a man accused of trafficking pornography involving infants, toddlers and dogs. The judge said she found the plea agreement to be lenient.
Clair McFarlandJune 11, 2024
Two Colorado Men Busted Trying To Smuggle Lamborghinis Through Wyoming
A pair of men from Colorado who were busted after trying to drive stolen Lamborghinis through Wyoming had their cases elevated to felony court. The cars, which can drive more than 200 MPH, are worth more than $550,000.
Clair McFarlandJune 10, 2024
‘He’s Not Sorry,’ Family Of Slain Woman Says As Accused Killer Pleads Not Guilty
Family of Utahnna Bearcomesout looked on Monday as her accused killer pleaded not guilty, then told them he’s sorry while leaving the courtroom in shackles. “He’s not sorry,” the alleged victim’s sister said.
Clair McFarlandJune 10, 2024