Crime & Courts
News
Evanston Woman Accused Of Driving Off With Arresting Cops In Her Truck
An Evanston, Wyoming, woman will be in court Thursday after being accused of driving off with two cops in her truck. She was mad that a local grocery store wouldn’t sell her prescription drugs, and even called 911 to report the cops were harassing her.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2025
Prosecutor Says No Evidence Of Antifreeze After Woman Nearly Dies From Spiked Drink
Park County, Wyoming, officials say there’s no evidence that a woman was poisoned with antifreeze from a spiked drink at a Cody bar New Year’s Eve. But the woman nearly died, and her mother questions the investigation.
Leo WolfsonMarch 05, 2025
Former Roommate Of Wyoming Man Accused Of Murdering Woman Says He's Not Insane
The former roommate of Joseph Underwood, who’s accused of killing a woman and dumping her body in a Park County, Wyoming, ravine, says he isn't insane. He says Underwood is probably trying to cheat justice with his insanity plea.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2025
Family of Missing Moorcroft Man Refuse To Give Up As They Revamp Billboard Again
It’s going on six years since Moorcroft's Chance Englebert vanished while visiting in-laws in Nebraska. His family remains desperate for any news of him, so every two years they repair a billboard to repair the faded image and peeling vinyl.
Jen KocherMarch 04, 2025
Lone Survivor Of Triple-Fatal Drunk Driver Crash 'Wouldn't Wish It On Anyone'
The drunk Casper man who killed three people in a crash in May 2022 has been sentenced to 18-20 years, according to a court order filed Friday. Meanwhile, the only survivor of that crash says she still replays the horrific scene in her head every day.
Clair McFarlandMarch 03, 2025
Laramie Firefighter Paralyzed After Being Crushed In House Fire Collapse
A Laramie firefighter is facing a long rehabilitation after being paralyzed when a stone fireplace chase collapsed on him while fighting a house fire late Friday. His father told Cowboy State Daily that doctors believe his spinal cord is still intact.
Mark HeinzMarch 03, 2025
Man Applying To Be Jail Officer Allegedly Admits Molesting Kids During Polygraph
A Gillette, Wyoming, man who tried to get a job as a detention officer is now incarcerated in the jail where he’d hoped to work. That’s because during a pre-employment polygraph, he confessed to molesting children, court documents allege.
Clair McFarlandMarch 03, 2025
Netflix Docuseries On Gabby Petito Murder Puts Wyoming In Spotlight Again
The search for Gabby Petito in fall 2021 had the world watching northwest Wyoming. The missing YouTuber was ultimately found murdered in Bridger-Teton National Forest, and a new Netflix docuseries puts Teton County Coroner Brent Blue and the investigative team in the spotlight again.
Jen KocherMarch 02, 2025
FBI Seeks Ethete Man Accused Of Working With 'Probable' Drug Cartel Member
The FBI is seeking information regarding the whereabouts of Collie Judson Warren, 49, who is wanted on suspicion of dealing meth. Court documents say Warren worked with a man with "probable" Mexican drug cartel ties near the Wind River Reservation.
Clair McFarlandMarch 02, 2025
Beleaguered Assisted Living Center In Gillette Trying To Earn Back Public Trust
After making international headlines when an elderly female resident was found frozen in January, the Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in Gillette announced Friday it will continue to not admit new patients until it’s fully staffed and has reduced the number of contracted staff.
Jen KocherMarch 01, 2025
Hours After Governor Signs New Abortion Law, Pro-Choice Group Files Lawsuit
Hours after Gov. Mark Gordon signed a new law regulating abortion clinics, with another heading to his desk, a pro-choice group has sued to block them. The lawsuit, filed at 1 a.m. Friday, claims the laws target Wyoming’s only abortion clinic.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 28, 2025
Man With ‘Probable’ Drug Cartel Ties Could Get Life For Dealing Meth In Wyoming
An illegal immigrant with “probable” Mexican drug cartel ties was in federal court Thursday. Through an interpreter, he was told he could get 10 years to life in prison if convicted of dealing meth on the Wind River Reservation.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 28, 2025
PETA To Get $35K Settlement After Denied Anti-Leather Ad In Rock Springs Airport
PETA says a settlement with the airport in Rock Springs allows the animal advocacy group to post an anti-leather ad and collect $35,000 in legal fees. The group sued after the ad had been rejected.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 28, 2025
Scammer Selling Bogus Cheyenne Frontier Days Food Truck Applications
Wyoming food truck vendors are being scammed into paying bogus application fees in hopes of having a coveted spot at Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Cheyenne Police Department warns.
Greg JohnsonFebruary 27, 2025
Montana Credit Union Worker Replaced $340,000 In Vault With Fake Money
When a credit union employee needed cash to feed his gambling habit, he bought fake cash from an online prop money company and swapped it with real bills in the vault. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to replacing $340,000 over seven months.
David MadisonFebruary 27, 2025
Lyman Man Accused Of Shooting Man 10 Times Pleads Insanity
The Wyoming State Hospital has about a month to offer an opinion on whether a Lyman man was too insane to know what he was doing when he allegedly killed another man last summer. The victim was shot 10 times near Fort Bridger.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 27, 2025
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