Crime & Courts

Sheriff Says Laramie County Will Stop Being ‘Safe Haven’ For Human Trafficking

A sex solicitation sting in Cheyenne led to the arrest of two men last weekend. Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak says it’s the beginning of a new effort to stop human trafficking that has been ignored for too long by law enforcement.

Kerry DrakeJune 26, 2026

Idaho's Reviving The Firing Squad. Wyoming Almost Did For Dale Wayne Eaton

Idaho is switching from lethal injections to firing squad executions on July 1. Wyoming almost added firing squad executions as an alternate method in 2014 because lethal injection drugs were scarce and 'Lil Miss' killer Dale Wayne Eaton was still on death row.

Clair McFarlandJune 25, 2026

Two Arrested After Allegedly Kicking Down Door, Stuffing 3 Bottles Of Tequila In Pants

Police say two Cheyenne men looking for "more privacy" wound up in the Crown Bar's employee-only basement, where one "donkey kicked" a locked liquor room door and then stuffed three bottles of tequila in his pants before they were caught.

Kolby FedoreJune 25, 2026

El Abuelito restaurant in Jackson, Wyoming.

Texas Man Accused Of Flashing Penis Outside Busy Jackson Mexican Restaurant

A Texas man is accused of exposing his penis and "swinging it around" in the parking lot of a busy Mexican restaurant in Jackson on Tuesday evening before driving away intoxicated. If convicted on all four counts he could face up to 3½ years in jail.

Kolby FedoreJune 25, 2026

Armed Woman Arrested Near Cody Golf Course After Multi-Hour Standoff

An armed female suspect surrendered to law enforcement after a multi-hour standoff on Cody's south side Wednesday afternoon. Dawn Blaylock, 41, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass, property destruction, and interference with a police officer.

Andrew RossiJune 24, 2026

Judge Rules Rep. Allemand Wasn’t Read Miranda Rights When Stopped For DUI

A Johnson County judge ruled that anything Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand said while handcuffed for 12 minutes during a DUI traffic stop can’t be used as direct evidence against him, because his arresting deputy failed to give him his Miranda rights.

Clair McFarlandJune 24, 2026

A Casper teen accused of attacking his mother led police to a hidden cache of stolen firearms tucked behind a secret wall in his bedroom.

Casper Teen Charged As Adult After Fight With Mom Leads To Cache Of Stolen Guns

A Casper teen accused of attacking his mother led police to a hidden cache of stolen firearms and credit cards tucked behind a secret wall in his bedroom. Honor Jason Wickert is being charged as an adult with four felonies and several misdemeanors.

Kolby FedoreJune 24, 2026

A number of surveillance cameras on Chris Eberline's ranch property have captured Great Pyrenees dogs she claims have been roaming and attacking livestock and killing calves.

Kinnear Woman Pleads Not Guilty Again To Latest Citation Over Roving Guard Dogs

A Kinnear-area woman embroiled in a years-long feud over roaming livestock guardian dogs pleaded not guilty Tuesday to her latest animal-at-large charge. Several ranchers have alleged her dogs have harassed livestock and contributed to calf deaths.

Kolby FedoreJune 23, 2026

Colorado Woman Accused of Stealing $2,000 in Fireworks, Nearly Running Over Employees

A Colorado woman, accused of stealing $2,000 worth of pyrotechnics at a fireworks dealer south of Cheyenne, is headed to district court. The 61-year-old woman allegedly drove toward store employees at a "high rate of speed" to avoid being detained.

Kolby FedoreJune 23, 2026

Wyoming’s understaffed prisons have 109 vacant positions, despite years of recruiting efforts. Now they're turning to military veterans because “there's not too many people in prison that are there for singing too loud in church,” said a former official. Above, a pair of Wyoming correcrtions officers move an inmate in a file photo.

Facing Huge Staffing Shortfalls, Wyoming Prisons Recruiting Military Veterans

Wyoming’s prisons have 109 vacant positions, despite years of recruiting. Now they're turning to military veterans because of their training. "The veterans we recruited were excellent correctional officers," said former corrections chief Bob Lampert.

Kolby FedoreJune 21, 2026

A viral video posted to Magnetic Norse on X.com shows a man revving his motorcycle until it pops, prompting a visit from a police officer who said the noise sensors “triangulated” the sound.

We Know Surveillance Cameras Are Being Used, But So Are Surveillance Microphones

While Wyoming debates surveillance cameras, what's gone largely unsung and un-debated is sound sensor technology. Law enforcement authorities in Cheyenne say they are using noise sensors to detect gunshot sounds. Some worry it could lead to "mission creep.”

Clair McFarlandJune 20, 2026

Michael Odom, a 33-year-old Lander man, faces up to 42 years in prison in connection with the Wednesday evening Riverton crash in which two people died.

Lander Man Faces Homicide Charges, 42 Years In Double Fatal Riverton Crash

A Lander man faces homicide charges and up to 42 years in prison in connection with a Wednesday Riverton crash that killed two people. “I’m terribly sorry about what happened,” he said in court on Friday. “I’ve just been fighting addiction my whole life.”

Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2026

Rock Springs Man Accused Of Torturing Woman For Days With Razor Blade And Fork

A Rock Springs man was in court Thursday, accused of holding a woman captive for days and torturing her with a razor blade and fork. "I will murder your cat,” police say he told her. "I will murder your ... family if you get the cops involved."

Kolby FedoreJune 19, 2026

A now-former Newcastle police sergeant, Nicholas Kaminski, already charged for allegedly staking and assaulting a woman faces more charges, accused of terrorizing the woman for 10 months. In once instance, he threatened to “knife her to death,” according to court documents.

More Charges For Former Newcastle Cop Accused Of Assaulting And Terrorizing Woman

A now-former Newcastle police sergeant already charged for allegedly stalking and assaulting a woman faces more charges, accused of terrorizing the woman for 10 months. In once instance, he threatened to “knife her to death,” according to court documents.

Kolby FedoreJune 19, 2026

The mother of Aiden Hall, 22, of Cheyenne, who shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car Sunday, is asking how that could happen. She told Cowboy State Daily that police confiscated his pocket knife, but not his pistol.

Mother Of Cheyenne Man Who Shot Himself In Police Car Files Wrongful Death Petition

The mother of a Cheyenne man who shot and killed himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car in January has filed a wrongful death petition. “I don’t want this to happen to anybody else’s family,” the mother said shortly after his death.

Greg JohnsonJune 19, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday held that marijuana use alone isn’t enough to let the federal government charge a person with a felony for possessing a gun.

Firearms Expert Says Supreme Court Marijuana Case Important For Wyoming Gun Owners

George Mocsary, a firearms law expert, says the U.S. Supreme Court's Thursday opinion upholding a marijuana user's right to keep a gun is important for Wyoming. "The case is ultimately about whether government can take away a constitutional right," he said.

Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2026

Cheyenne 14-Year-Old Charged As Adult In Mom’s Shooting Set For Trial

A Cheyenne 14-year-old charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the death of his mother is set for a jury trial in less than two months. His defense claims he was emotionally abused, while investigators say he admitted he hated his mother.

Greg JohnsonJune 18, 2026

A Dodge pickup involved in a double fatal car crash Wednesday evening lay on its side before wreckers righted it and winched it onto a trailer. The driver of the pickup tried to flee the scene, one witness said.

Two Dead, One Tackled And Arrested in Riverton Crash

Two people died Wednesday evening after a two-vehicle crash unfolded in front of Riverton’s Walmart. Law enforcement officers tackled a suspect who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular homicide.

Clair McFarlandJune 18, 2026

Dena Hansen and Cheyenne green sign IMG 6015 6 17 26

Jury Finds Former Cheyenne Water Manager Guilty Of Stealing $350K Over A Decade

A Laramie County jury on Wednesday found the former manager of the South Cheyenne Water and Sewer District guilty of stealing about $350,000 from district accounts over a decade. For years, the amounts were small enough to disappear into a stack of utility bills. She faces up to 10 years in prison.

Kolby FedoreJune 17, 2026

The man who shot Sgt. Zach Burns in Baggs last week was likely planning a mass shooting, said the Carbon County Sheriff. “The gunman had stockpiled hundreds of AR-15 magazines ... and had been prepared to initiate a large-scale act of violence," he said.

Sheriff Says Baggs Suspect Who Shot Deputy Likely Was Planning 'Large-Scale Act'

The man who shot a deputy in Baggs last week was likely planning something, said the Carbon County Sheriff. “The gunman had stockpiled hundreds of AR-15 magazines ... and had been prepared to initiate a large-scale act of violence," he said.

Greg JohnsonJune 17, 2026

Supreme Court Upholds 21-To-26-Year Sentence For Casper Cop Who Caused Standoff

The state Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the 21-to-26-year prison term for a former Casper police officer who shot at other officers during a standoff. He argued a judge wrongly disregarded his plea deal to sentence him to a term five times longer.

Clair McFarlandJune 17, 2026

AG Says Prosecutors Declined To Charge Chuck Gray With A Crime

Wyoming's attorney general on Tuesday said he appointed two prosecutors to investigate whether Secretary of State Chuck Gray violated any laws by releasing sensitive voter data to the federal government, but neither decided to charge Gray with a crime.

Clair McFarlandJune 16, 2026

Casper Police escort a man identified as the homeowner’s father off the property where he lived on Monday morning.

Two Left Homeless After ‘Suspected Arson’ Of North-Side Casper Home

Casper's police and fire department report they are investigating a "suspected arson" at a north-side home on Friday evening that left two people homeless. “My dad had asked her to leave,” then the fire started, said a woman about someone staying at the house.

Dale KillingbeckJune 15, 2026

A former Wyoming Boys' School resident strapped down to a restraint chair with a mask over his head. A court filing claims he was put in the chair with a mask for up to eight hours a day.

Court Filings Say Wyoming Boys' School Staffers Restrained, Attacked Boys

A group of young men suing the Wyoming Boys’ School claim they were attacked, confined in a chair and made to wear a mask. “The best part of the chair is watching the kids cry and scream,” a security guard is alleged to have said.

Clair McFarlandJune 15, 2026

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