Crime & Courts
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Accused Gillette Kidnapper Doesn't Help Case By Apologizing In Court
A Gillette man accused of kidnapping a woman and leading deputies on a high-speed chase up to 170 mph didn’t help his case by apologizing in court Thursday. Although warned by the judge not to incriminate himself, he said, “I feel sorry for what I did."
Clair McFarlandJanuary 31, 2025

Wyoming One Of 6 States Without Missing Person Protocols; New Law Would Change That
Wyoming is one of six states without protocols for when people go missing. A bill that passed to the state Senate on Thursday would change that, requiring timely reporting and listing on national databases.
Jen KocherJanuary 31, 2025

Montana Drug Trafficker Who Wouldn’t Flip Accused Of Bear Spraying Girlfriend
When a drug smuggler busted in Butte, Montana, wouldn’t flip and become an informant, he went on the run. Then a domestic violence call revealed the true scope of his crime spree, including bear-spraying a girlfriend.
David MadisonJanuary 31, 2025

Gillette Man Accused Of Shooting Half-Sister In The Face To Face Murder Trial
A Gillette man accused of killing his half-sister last week when he allegedly shot her in the face was in court Thursday, but not for long. He waived a preliminary hearing and will face a murder trial.
Jen KocherJanuary 30, 2025

Wyoming Trainer Helps With Rescue Of 86 Neglected Morgan Horses In Montana
When a Montana horse breeder allegedly stopped caring for his herd of Morgans, a pair of ranch hands alerted authorities. A Wyoming trainer has been part of the rescue effort to save 86 neglected Morgans.
David MadisonJanuary 30, 2025

Wyoming Man Faces 548 Years In Prison Over Disturbing Child Porn Allegations
A Reliance, Wyoming, man is facing a half-millennium in prison on claims he kept and transferred disturbing child-sex pictures and videos. He pleaded not guilty to 31 of the 54 charges against him Wednesday.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 30, 2025

Eight Wyoming Sheriffs Seeing Mystery Drones Still Have No Answers
The White House says the drones over New Jersey last year were authorized. But that doesn't explain what multiple Wyoming sheriffs who reached out to Cowboy State Daily say they're seeing over power plants and oil fields.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 29, 2025

Fake "Bitcoin Billionaire" Cheated Jackson Businesses Out Of $212K, Prosecutors Say
Passing himself off as a "bitcoin billionaire," a 30-year-old California man was able to cheat Jackson, Wyoming, businesses out of nearly $212,000 for resort stays, bar tabs and a new Dodge Ram, prosecutors allege.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 29, 2025

Casper Teen Who Said “I Hope I Killed One” After Shooting At Homes Pleads Guilty
A 15-year-old Casper boy who reportedly told friends “I hope I killed one” pleaded guilty Wednesday to shooting a 10 mm pistol into two homes in August. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 29, 2025

Cheyenne Woman Accused Of Stabbing Husband, Who Died After Refusing Treatment
A Cheyenne woman accused of stabbing her husband now faces a murder charge after he died four days later, the Cheyenne Police Department reported Tuesday. The alleged victim initially refused treatment at the scene.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 28, 2025

Transient Pleads Guilty To Breaking Laramie Woman’s Face
A transient man accused of breaking his ex-girlfriend’s face after she asked him to leave her home pleaded guilty Monday in a Laramie courthouse. David Leyba, 60, evaded arrest for nearly a year after the attack.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 27, 2025

Feds Raid Denver Party, Arrest 49 Illegal Immigrants; Investigations Ongoing In Wyoming
Federal agents on Sunday raided a private party in southeast Denver and arrested 49 illegal aliens including alleged members of Tren de Aragua. Agents say investigations are ongoing in Wyoming.
Jen KocherJanuary 27, 2025

How A Budding Gillette Baseball Star And Marine Became A Pedophile Hunter
Chris McDonald grew up in Gillette and planned on a career in baseball. Then duty called and he became a Marine in Operation Desert Strom. Now he’s a pedophile hunter, leading DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children division.
Jen KocherJanuary 26, 2025

Casper Man Caught Fleeing With 14-Year-Old Gets 37-45 Years
A Casper, Wyoming, man caught transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sex acts faces 37-45 years in federal prison. The then-36-year-old was caught with his 14-year-old victim in Arizona.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 25, 2025

4 Fired In Wake Of 88-Year-Old Found Dead Outside Gillette Assisted Living Center
Four people working at a Gillette, Wyoming, assisted living center have been fired in the wake of an 88-year-old resident there being found dead in an outside courtyard Jan. 10. The terminations were announced Thursday.
Jen KocherJanuary 24, 2025

Locals Remember Thermopolis Woman Killed In Hit-And-Run As "Remarkable"
Bernie Blacketer was a "remarkable" woman whose death is a blow to the town of Thermopolis, Wyoming, the town's mayor said Friday after Blacketer was killed in a hit-and-run. Blacketer would be "preaching forgiveness" over the incident, the mayor said.
Clair McFarland & Jackie DorothyJanuary 24, 2025

Thermopolis Police Say They Found Driver In Hit-And-Run That Killed Pedestrian
A pedestrian was struck and killed Friday morning by a driver in Thermopolis, Wyoming, who didn’t stop to help after the collision, authorities say. Authorities announced Friday morning they'd found the driver.
Clair McFarland & Jackie DorothyJanuary 24, 2025

Former Wyoming Police Chief Accused Of Helping Girlfriend Elude Cops Arrested Again
The former Manderson, Wyoming, police chief is in trouble again, accused of violating a judge’s order and texting a woman investigators say he helped elude a drug investigation. He bonded out of jail Tuesday.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 24, 2025

Montana Pastor Used His “Karate Lessons” To Sexually Assault At Least One Child
A small-town Montana church pastor was convicted last week of sexually assaulting a child and has been accused of another. He used the self-defense “karate lessons” he taught to get close enough to abuse his victims, court documents say.
David MadisonJanuary 23, 2025

Cheyenne Teen Cops Plea, Could Get 10 Years For Pistol-Whipping And Shooting
A 19-year-old Cheyenne teen admitted pistol-whipping one person and threating others with a gun Thursday. In a plea deal, he could get up to 10 years in prison, or he could get Boot Camp.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 23, 2025

Green River Man Walks Into Sheriff’s Office, Admits Molesting Child 30 Years Ago
A 72-year-old Green River, Wyoming, man walked into his local sheriff's office, said he "needed to confess" and told a detective he sexually abused a child 30 years ago, court documents say. He now faces up to 25 years in prison.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 23, 2025

Man Shoots Coworker, Then Gives First Aid, Natrona County Sheriff Says
Natrona County deputies are investigating a shooting at a business Wednesday night that sent a man to the hospital in reportedly critical condition. The coworker who allegedly shot the man also gave him first aid, the sheriff’s office reports.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 23, 2025

Wyoming Public Defender Held In Contempt Fights Charge, Quits
A Wyoming public defender quit his job last fall after a judge held him in contempt and fined him for being late to a hearing. In an ongoing public defender shortage, the attorney is fighting the charge, saying he was held up at another hearing.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 23, 2025

Report: “Give Me A Hug Now,” Gillette Man Tells Mom After Shooting Sister In Head
A Gillette, Wyoming, man has been charged with second-degree murder on claims he killed his sister. Police report that after he shot his sister in the head, he told his mother, “Give me a hug, because I am going to jail.”
Clair McFarland & Jen KocherJanuary 22, 2025
