Crime & Courts
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Rock Springs Man Gives Grisly Account Of Stabbing Victim 30 Times
A Rock Springs, Wyoming, man gave a grisly confession Friday about stabbing a man more than 30 times, killing him, and dumping his body last year. He said it happened after a meth-fueled argument about a woman with whom they were both involved.
Clair McFarlandDecember 07, 2024
Wyoming Tops In The Nation For Cigarette Smuggling
Wyoming has the highest rate of outbound cigarette smuggling in the U.S., according to a study by the Tax Foundation. The group says 49.2% of Wyoming’s cigarette consumption goes to smugglers taking the product outside the state.
Clair McFarlandDecember 06, 2024
Man Who Held Woman Taken From Bloomberg Hostage At Cheyenne Motel Gets 22 Years
A Colorado man who held a woman hostage in a Cheyenne, Wyoming, motel after kidnapping her from Michael Bloomberg’s ranch was sentenced to 22 years in prison Thursday.
Clair McFarlandDecember 06, 2024
Housekeeper Accused Of Stealing $26K In Coins From Room In Historic Plains Hotel
The former head housekeeper of the historic Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, is accused of stealing $26,000 worth of coins from a guest’s room. Court documents say she had other people sell them to coin dealers for cash.
Clair McFarlandDecember 05, 2024
Former Riverton Youth Pastor Found Not Guilty Of Molesting Child
A former Riverton, Wyoming, youth pastor accused of fondling a young girl last year was found not guilty by a Florida jury Tuesday. He allegedly told investigators that he’s addicted to porn and “gave in to temptation.”
Clair McFarlandDecember 05, 2024
Suspect Leads Casper Police On High-Speed Chase After Pepper-Spraying Clerk
A man is in jail after allegedly pepper-spraying a liquor store attendant and grabbing about 30 cartons of cigarettes. He then led Casper police on a high-speed late Tuesday.
Greg JohnsonDecember 05, 2024
Gillette Officer Faces Felony Charge For Alleged Sex With Woman On Probation
The Gillette Police Department officer arrested by his own department Monday faces an out-of-state felony charge. He's accused of having sex with a woman who was on felony probation while he was a cop in Utah, which is a felony in that state.
Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2024
US Supreme Court Hears Case That Could Reverse Wyoming Ban On Child Sex Changes
The U.S. Supreme Court heard argument Wednesday in a case that could decide if states can ban sex-change treatments for kids. The decision could reverse Wyoming’s ban.
Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2024
In Brief: Gillette Police Department Arrests One Of Its Own Officers
The Gillette Police Department took one of its own officers into custody Monday, after Utah authorities said the man was wanted on suspicion of a sex crime. The official also is accused of witness tampering and disseminating a private record.
Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2024
Lighter Charges For Couple Accused Of Shooting Toward, Bear Spraying Woman
A South Dakota couple accused of shooting toward a woman and bear spraying her at their Wyoming campsite may plead to lesser charges. Their felony-level charges, each punishable by a decade in prison, were reduced to misdemeanors last week.
Clair McFarlandDecember 03, 2024
Former Laramie Council Hopeful Pleads To Sabotaging Wyoming Public Radio Equipment
Former Laramie City Council candidate Paul Montoya has pleaded no contest to sabotaging Wyoming Public Radio equipment. He maintains his innocence, telling Cowboy State Daily on Monday the charges weren’t “worth the time and expense” to bring.
Leo WolfsonDecember 03, 2024
Homemade Propane Bomb Found In Wyoming Oil Field Equipment Shed
A homemade propane bomb was found Saturday in the tool shed of a Weston County, Wyoming, oil field equipment company. It was “the real deal,” the sheriff says, adding it’s lucky the device didn’t go off.
Greg JohnsonDecember 02, 2024
Wyoming Sues Huge Investors For Pushing “Climate Activist Agenda” To Kill Coal
Wyoming and 10 other states are accusing three massive investors of colluding to downsize coal companies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions goals. They’re using their power as large stockholders to push “a climate activist agenda.”
Clair McFarlandDecember 02, 2024
Wyoming Man Agrees To Plead Guilty To Trying To Kidnap Teen Girl
A man from St. Stephens, Wyoming, has agreed to plead guilty to trying to kidnap a teen girl from a Riverton movie theater in 2022. The girl managed to fight Terrence Jenkins off even after he held a knife to her neck, court documents say.
Clair McFarlandDecember 02, 2024
Carbon County Man Found Dead In Remote Area South Of Rawlins
Bruce Baugh was supposed to be back home in Rawlins by 11 a.m. Wednesday after an early-morning elk. Carbon County Search and Rescue volunteers found his body on Thursday afternoon, over a mile away from his vehicle, which had become stuck.
Andrew RossiNovember 29, 2024
Wyoming Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Woman After Beating Another
An Ethete, Wyoming, man pleaded guilty Tuesday to stabbing a woman to death on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Months earlier, Kevin Mendibles also was arrested for beating another woman. He faces life in prison.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Wyoming Supreme Court Rules Against Man Who Tried To Sneak Meth Into Court
The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a man who tried to sneak meth into the Uinta County Courthouse wasn’t searched illegally. The justices said the man gave up his right to privacy when he entered the courthouse.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Disabled Woman Sues, Says Cheyenne Police Officer Broke Her Ankle
A local woman filed a civil complaint against the city of Cheyenne and a Cheyenne police officer, who she claims used excessive force during a minor traffic stop. She says the officer broke her right ankle and roughed her up.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Montana Principal Pleads No Contest To Blocking Police Investigation Of Teacher
A Montana school principal and former candidate for the state’s top education post pleaded no contest Tuesday to blocking a police investigation into a teacher. Prosecutors didn’t buy her claim she hindered police to protect parental rights.
David MadisonNovember 27, 2024
Teton County Has Let 103 Illegal Immigrants Slip Away In Two Years, Says ICE
Within the past 21 months, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office has allowed 103 illegal immigrants to slip away, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday. They say the sheriff’s office has not been honoring ICE’s requests for holds.
Clair McFarlandNovember 27, 2024
Higher Court Revives Lawsuit By Laramie High Schooler Arrested Over Not Masking
A former Laramie High School student who was arrested over a dispute over masking had her lawsuit against the local school district revived Tuesday. It had been dismissed by a lower court in 2023.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Mexican Nationals Accused Of Beating Gillette Roommate, Leaving Him For Dead
Three Mexican nationals are accused of beating their roommate from Gillette, Wyoming, driving out to a remote part of Campbell County, and leaving him for dead. Beaten and cold, the man followed some railroad tracks back to town.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Appeals Court Also Refuses To Kick Trans Player Off Volleyball Team
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals declined Tuesday to disqualify a San Jose State University transgender player from the Mountain West Conference tournament. The higher court's ruling upholds a lower order by a Colorado judge.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024
Volleyball Players Appeal, Ask Higher Court To Oust Transgender Player
A dozen women suing the Mountain West Conference over its inclusion of a transgender volleyball player are asking a higher court to intervene. A Colorado judge on Monday denied the women's request to oust the transgender player from this week's championship tournament.
Clair McFarlandNovember 26, 2024