Crime & Courts
News
Judge Tells Wyoming Legislators To Buy More Computers And Fund Schools Better
A Laramie County District Court judge ordered Wyoming lawmakers Wednesday to fund schools better to satisfy the state Constitution. The ruling calls for more computers, school resource officers and mental health counselors, among other underfunded needs.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 27, 2025
Wyoming Child Porn Case Ends With Raid Of Philippines Sex House
What started as a child pornography bust in Lincoln County, Wyoming, ended this month with the rescue of nine children from sex trafficking in the Philippines, authorities say. Local agents got to watch the bust via Zoom as the raid unfolded.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 26, 2025
FBI, ICE Nab Suspected Mexican Cartel Member Working On Wyoming Reservation
FBI agents arrested Tuesday an illegal immigrant they say has ties to a drug cartel and is suspected of dealing meth around Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation. Two others, including an illegal immigrant from Mexico, were also arrested.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 26, 2025
Man Accused In 1982 Green River Bombing Caught In New Mexico After Standoff
A man accused of sending a bomb to his ex-wife’s new boyfriend’s house in Green River, Wyoming, in 1982, has been caught in New Mexico after more than 40 years, allegedly living under a dead classmate's identity. The blast blew off one of the woman’s fingers and caused other injuries.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 26, 2025
You Can Shoot A Vicious Dog In Wyoming, But Be Prepared To Back It Up
Concealed firearms carriers can legally shoot attacking dogs but should be prepared to back their stories up, self-defense experts say. It can be more complicated in a populated area, even leading to potential endangering charges.
Mark HeinzFebruary 25, 2025
Man Accused Of Firing Shotgun At Fleeing Wife Agrees To 3-5 Years In Prison
A Sheridan man pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault, following claims he fired a shotgun toward his wife as she ran and took cover in a ditch. Prosecutors are seeking a three-to-five year prison sentence.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 25, 2025
Casper Man Charged With Illegal Gambling Says Wyoming's Ban Is Unconstitutional
A man accused of running a professional gambling operation out of three businesses is challenging the law with which he is charged. Scott Schroefel of Casper claims the state’s statute against illegal gambling is vague, confusing and unconstitutional.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 25, 2025
Montana Man Gets 110 Years For Crashing Homemade Truck Bomb Into Neighbor’s House
A neighborhood feud turned into a scene from “Mad Max” when a Montana man transformed his truck into a firebomb on wheels and sent it crashing into a neighbor’s house. He was sentenced earlier this month to 110 years in prison for attempted murder.
David MadisonFebruary 25, 2025
Powell Resident Shoots At Hawk With Fireworks
Though they were called to an active shooter incident, the Powell police quickly learned it was actually a person trying to blast a hawk with a roman candle. Meanwhile, the responding officer accidentally discharged a gun.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 25, 2025
Worland Man Charged With Shooting Own Dog Six Times, Hoping He'd 'Bleed Out'
Axel, a border-collie mix, is recovering after being shot six times by his owner. Donald W. Wright, 59, of Worland, Wyoming, was in court Monday, charged with cruelty to animals and saying he hoped the dog would "bleed out."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 24, 2025
Thermopolis Woman Accused Of Taking At Least $15,000 From FFA Alumni Pleads Guilty
A Thermopolis woman accused of stealing at least $15,000 from a Future Farmers of America (FFA) alumni group pleaded guilty last week to felony charges. The special prosecutor on the case is now asking for no more than 30 months in prison.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 24, 2025
Douglas Man Gets 48-62 Years For Killing Green Beret Cousin
Mark Helms has been sentenced to 48-62 years in prison for killing his cousin Nicholas Velazquez, a special forces Green Beret. The pair had been drinking overnight at Helms' home in 2023.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 24, 2025
Green River Tunnel Survivor Still In Hospital, Family Grateful For Support
The 20-year-old woman who was severely hurt in the Feb. 14 tunnel collision outside of Green River, Wyoming, remains hospitalized. She’s in the care of "incredible medical teams," her family says.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 22, 2025
Sheridan Man Agrees To 4-6 Years For Punching Hockey Coach To Death
A Sheridan man pleaded no-contest Wednesday to fatally punching a local hockey coach in the head after a dispute about a parking space last summer. He's agreed to a prison sentence of four to six years.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 21, 2025
Wyoming Man Who “Wanted To Feel It” When He Killed Woman Gets 40 Years
An Ethete, Wyoming, man who told police he “wanted to feel it” when he brutally beat and stabbed a woman to death last year was sentenced to 40 years in prison Friday.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 21, 2025
UW Volleyball Players Want Judge Off Case For Making Them Call Trans Player ‘She’
Three University of Wyoming volleyball players are among those who sued over a transgender player being allowed on a rival team. They’re now asking a Colorado judge to recuse himself from their case for making them refer to the trans player as “she.”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 21, 2025
Man Who Strangled Drunk Man At Casper Motel Gets 62 Years To Life
A 44-year-old Casper man faces a 62-to-life prison sentence for strangling a 28-year-old man in a Casper motel room last March. James Mavigliano was convicted of second-degree murder in December following a jury trial.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 20, 2025
Two Dead In Latest Green River Crash ID'd; Semi Truck Went Straight On Curve
A fatal crash outside Green River that killed two people Wednesday happened when a semitruck failed to navigate a curve and collided with a Honda Odyssey, the Wyoming Highway Patrol reports.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 20, 2025
Casper Teen Charged In Fatal Shooting Had History Of Pointing Gun At People
An 18-year-old Casper man was bound over to Natrona County District Court Thursday on an involuntary manslaughter charge. Evidence at a preliminary hearing showed he had a history of pointing his .40-caliber Glock at others.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 20, 2025
Man Calls In 6 Bomb Threats To Evanston Horse Palace
A man forced the Evanston Horse Palace to close Wednesday night when he called six times in a row to say he planted a bomb inside. After a sweep with a bomb-sniffing dog, the threats are believed to be a hoax that could’ve come from anywhere.
Greg JohnsonFebruary 20, 2025
Wyoming Girl Who Fought Off Attacker Forgives Him As He Gets 36-40 Years
A man who attacked and tried to kidnap a Wyoming girl outside a Riverton movie theater was sentenced Thursday to 36-40 years in prison. His victim told Cowboy State Daily that as she fought him off, she was determined to not be another memorial on Facebook.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 20, 2025
Green River Tunnel Open To 2-Way Traffic Again After Devastating Crash
The Wyoming Department of Transportation has opened two-way traffic through the Green River Tunnel on Thursday for the first time since a devastating 26-vehicle crash last Friday. Traffic is moving through the eastbound lanes at reduced speeds.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 20, 2025
Two Dead In Crash Outside Of Green River; Not Part Of Tunnel Detour
Two people died and one person was injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening outside Green River, at a junction that isn’t part of a congested detour through the town, the Wyoming Highway Patrol says.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 20, 2025
Sheridan Kids Taken By Mom Still Not Home, But Believed Safe, Police Report
After a dayslong search for a pair of young children from Sheridan who were taken Sunday by their mother, local police Wednesday night called off an alert asking people to be on the lookout for them.
Jen KocherFebruary 20, 2025