Crime & Courts
News

'Sovereign Citizen' Gets 7 Years In Prison For Having Guns As A Felon
A Casper, Wyoming, man was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. Saying he’s a sovereign citizen, he told officers during a traffic stop they’d have to kill him before eventually surrendering.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 21, 2024

Wyoming Cop Trainer Blames Break-Ins, Lawsuits On Poor Search And Seizure Training
A Casper police sergeant who teaches other cops search and seizure laws told Wyoming lawmakers Thursday that cops need better training. He said that may prevent problems like a recent cop break-in court settlement and a cop-involved shooting.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 20, 2024

Wyoming Crime Lab Fails Proficiency, Has To Review More Than 400 Past Gun Tests
After failing a firearms proficiency test, the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory is arranging for evidence re-testing in more than 400 cases from the past decade, the Attorney General told lawmakers Thursday.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 20, 2024

Matthew Shepard Killer's Commutation Request Denied
Russell Henderson, one of two men convicted in Matthew Shepard’s 1998 murder, tried and failed to have his sentence commuted this month, the Wyoming Board of Parole confirmed Thursday to Cowboy State Daily.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 20, 2024

Shots Near Torrington School Raise Alert, But It Was Just A Cow Being Put Down
There was a bit of a scare at Torrington High School Thursday afternoon when shots rang out near the school and then a malfunction sounded the fire alarm. Turns out, the shots were from a nearby livestock sale barn where a cow was put down.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2024

Yellowstone Releases Body Camera Footage From July 4 Shootout
Body camera video released Thursday by the National Park Service gives more detail about a July 4 shootout with a Yellowstone concession worker. The worker reportedly threatened a mass shooting, then shot at rangers before being killed.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2024

Laramie Man Arrested On Claims He Breached Capitol Jan. 6, Wrestled Officer
A Laramie man could face years in prison on claims he was one of the first rioters to enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In a Wednesday statement, the U.S. Attorney's Office alleges he also wrestled with a Capitol Police officer.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2024

Superior Mayor Wants More Policing, Sheriff Says He Wants Special Treatment
The mayor of Superior, Wyoming — population 180 — complained to the Sweetwater County Commission on Tuesday his town needs more policing. The sheriff says he does handle issues in the town, but the mayor wants special treatment.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2024

Tourist Burned, Life-Flighted After Walking On Yellowstone Thermal
A 60-year-old tourist from New Hampshire suffered second- and third-degree burns after walking off-trail over a geothermal crust in Yellowstone. The woman was life-flighted to a hospital in Idaho.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2024

Two Motorcyclists Dead From Crashing Into Same Cheyenne Building Within 3 Weeks
Two motorcyclists have been killed in the past three weeks after crashing into the same building in Cheyenne. In both cases, the police believe speed was a factor.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2024

Feds Say Wyoming Farmers, Miners Not Entitled To Relief From New Lease Rule
In a Friday court filing the federal government defends a new rule that allows the BLM to lease federal land for conservation. Wyoming famers and miners are suing over the rule, which they say allows groups to lease public land solely to not develop on it.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2024

Sheridan Man Accused Of Dousing Couple With Lighter Fluid So They’d Shoot Him
A Sheridan man will face felony charges for allegedly dousing a sleeping couple with lighter fluid. He reportedly told police he did it to prompt them to shoot him.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2024

Sheridan County Commissioner Gets Maximum Fine, 8 Days In Jail For DUI
Sheridan County Commissioner Christi Haswell has pleaded guilty to drunk driving and will serve eight days in jail as part of a plea agreement. She also got the maximum fine allowed and a year of unsupervised probation.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2024

Idaho Company's Bungee Jump From Casper Crime Scene Leaves People Shocked, Sad
People in Casper were shocked and saddened over the weekend when they saw an Idaho company holding bungee-jump sessions at the scene of a crime so tragic that one crime writer called it “the loss of innocence for a whole community.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 16, 2024

Rock Springs Police Search For Missing 7-Year-Old Who Is Not A Runaway
Update: child has been found. The Rock Springs Police Department is asking for the public's help finding 7-year-old Leo Ressler, an autistic boy who went missing Sunday afternoon. Authorities say he's not a runaway, and he's considered "missing and endangered."
Clair McFarlandSeptember 15, 2024

Elderly Laramie Man Missing Three Weeks Found Dead In His Car
The family of a Laramie man who has been missing for three weeks said they were "devastated" to learn he was found dead in his vehicle Friday, having run off a road into a ravine in a rural part of Carbon County.
Jen KocherSeptember 14, 2024

‘I believe he killed her’: Boyfriend Of Missing Cody Woman Gets 7 Years On Gun Charge
The boyfriend of a missing Cody woman got seven years in prison Friday on a gun-related charge. But his sentencing unfolded like a murder trial with grisly evidence, and at one point an FBI agent bluntly testifying, “I believe he killed her.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 14, 2024

Riverton Man Gets 15-20 Years For Burning Girlfriend To Death With Gasoline
A Riverton, Wyoming, man who initially claimed pouring gasoline inside his house, lighting it on fire and killing his girlfriend an accident got 15-20 years in prison Friday. The judge didn’t buy it, saying that “this was not an accident.”
Clair McFarlandSeptember 13, 2024

Gillette Prosecutor Blasts Defense Attorney For Getting Victim’s Phone Records
A Gillette, Wyoming, prosecutor is blasting a defense attorney for getting nearly two years’ worth of an alleged crime victim’s personal phone records. Even if it’s a questionable thing to do, it could be allowed under Wyoming law.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 13, 2024
Accused Casper Dealer Named “T-Bone” Tries To Flush Drugs, Charged Anyway
A Casper man who goes by “T-Bone” is accused of dealing drugs and trying to flush the evidence, but faces six felony charges anyway. He attended his first court hearing Thursday via video.
Dale KillingbeckSeptember 12, 2024

Gillette Teen Pleads Guilty To Soliciting Kids, Bestiality Charge To Be Dropped
A 19-year-old Gillette man has pleaded guilty to five instances of soliciting kids for sex acts, while a charge of bestiality will be dropped. He was busted after a 15-year-old vigilante caught him by setting up a fake Snapchat account.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 12, 2024

Cody Middle-Schooler OK After Running Into Vehicle With Bicycle
A Cody Middle School student is home and "doing good" after a scary incident Thursday morning. Coming fast down a hill on his bicycle, the boy ran into a vehicle, prompting an ambulance response.
Andrew RossiSeptember 12, 2024

YouTube Predator Hunter Busts Wyoming Man In Child Sex Sting
A Hudson, Wyoming, man remains in jail after he was confronted by an online child predator hunter. A video shows Sean Brennan busted at his job in Lander — and getting immediately fired by his boss.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2024

“We’re Here To Support Him:” Large Turnout For Riverton Cop’s Felony Steroids Hearing
A crowd of about 20 loved ones attended the initial hearing of a now-former Riverton police officer facing up to five years in prison on a felony steroids possession charge. Some of the people who attended Alley’s hearing wept. All appeared somber throughout.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2024
