Topline: Cody Roberts will serve 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty involving a captured wolf.
Published: April 12, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Cody Roberts (via Jackson Hole News)
DANIEL, Wyo. — A Wyoming man who hit a wolf with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, and displayed it in a bar before killing it will not serve prison time.
Cody Roberts, 44, was sentenced to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty in connection with the February 2024 incident. The case drew global attention to the state’s wildlife laws and the treatment of predatory animals.
Sublette County District Judge Richard Lavery delivered the sentence after Roberts reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. As reported by NBC News, the court also ordered Roberts to pay a $1,000 fine. The sentence includes specific restrictions on the defendant’s daily life during the probation period.
Roberts must not drink alcohol or enter any bars or liquor stores during his 18-month term. The court also revoked his ability to hunt or fish while he remains on probation. These terms follow a deal that allowed Roberts to avoid a potential two-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine.
The incident began when Roberts struck a gray wolf with his snowmobile. Prosecutors stated he then bound the animal’s muzzle with tape and transported it to a local tavern. According to NPR, witnesses saw the wolf lying on the floor, alive but barely moving.
Someone at the bar reported the situation to local game wardens. Roberts later took the wolf behind the building and killed it. Photos and videos of the wolf inside the establishment circulated online, causing widespread public outcry and intense scrutiny of Wyoming’s predator laws.
This case focused attention on how the state manages its wolf population. As per NBC News, wolves are protected near Yellowstone National Park but can be killed without a license in most other parts of the state. These areas are often called predator zones.
Roberts initially paid a $250 fine for the illegal possession of a live wolf. A grand jury later moved forward with a felony animal cruelty charge. This second charge addressed the treatment of the animal while it was alive, rather than the act of killing it.
At a hearing in March, Roberts expressed regret for his actions and offered an apology to his family and the community. His lawyers and the prosecutors reached the plea agreement to settle the felony charge before it went to a full trial.
The ruling marks the end of the legal process for an event that sparked discussions about wildlife protection. While killing a wolf is legal in many parts of Wyoming, the law prohibits the intentional mistreatment of a captured animal. Roberts will remain under state supervision until his probation concludes.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Wyoming Man Avoids Prison After Wild Wolf Abuse Case
Cody Roberts will serve 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty involving a captured wolf.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 12, 2026 6:00 am ET
Cody Roberts (via Jackson Hole News)
DANIEL, Wyo. — A Wyoming man who hit a wolf with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, and displayed it in a bar before killing it will not serve prison time.
Cody Roberts, 44, was sentenced to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty in connection with the February 2024 incident. The case drew global attention to the state’s wildlife laws and the treatment of predatory animals.
Sublette County District Judge Richard Lavery delivered the sentence after Roberts reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. As reported by NBC News, the court also ordered Roberts to pay a $1,000 fine. The sentence includes specific restrictions on the defendant’s daily life during the probation period.
Roberts must not drink alcohol or enter any bars or liquor stores during his 18-month term. The court also revoked his ability to hunt or fish while he remains on probation. These terms follow a deal that allowed Roberts to avoid a potential two-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine.
The incident began when Roberts struck a gray wolf with his snowmobile. Prosecutors stated he then bound the animal’s muzzle with tape and transported it to a local tavern. According to NPR, witnesses saw the wolf lying on the floor, alive but barely moving.
Someone at the bar reported the situation to local game wardens. Roberts later took the wolf behind the building and killed it. Photos and videos of the wolf inside the establishment circulated online, causing widespread public outcry and intense scrutiny of Wyoming’s predator laws.
This case focused attention on how the state manages its wolf population. As per NBC News, wolves are protected near Yellowstone National Park but can be killed without a license in most other parts of the state. These areas are often called predator zones.
Roberts initially paid a $250 fine for the illegal possession of a live wolf. A grand jury later moved forward with a felony animal cruelty charge. This second charge addressed the treatment of the animal while it was alive, rather than the act of killing it.
At a hearing in March, Roberts expressed regret for his actions and offered an apology to his family and the community. His lawyers and the prosecutors reached the plea agreement to settle the felony charge before it went to a full trial.
The ruling marks the end of the legal process for an event that sparked discussions about wildlife protection. While killing a wolf is legal in many parts of Wyoming, the law prohibits the intentional mistreatment of a captured animal. Roberts will remain under state supervision until his probation concludes.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Wyoming Man Avoids Prison After Wild Wolf Abuse Case
Cody Roberts will serve 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty involving a captured wolf.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 12, 2026 6:00 am ET
Cody Roberts (via Jackson Hole News)
DANIEL, Wyo. — A Wyoming man who hit a wolf with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, and displayed it in a bar before killing it will not serve prison time.
Cody Roberts, 44, was sentenced to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty in connection with the February 2024 incident. The case drew global attention to the state’s wildlife laws and the treatment of predatory animals.
Sublette County District Judge Richard Lavery delivered the sentence after Roberts reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. As reported by NBC News, the court also ordered Roberts to pay a $1,000 fine. The sentence includes specific restrictions on the defendant’s daily life during the probation period.
Roberts must not drink alcohol or enter any bars or liquor stores during his 18-month term. The court also revoked his ability to hunt or fish while he remains on probation. These terms follow a deal that allowed Roberts to avoid a potential two-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine.
The incident began when Roberts struck a gray wolf with his snowmobile. Prosecutors stated he then bound the animal’s muzzle with tape and transported it to a local tavern. According to NPR, witnesses saw the wolf lying on the floor, alive but barely moving.
Someone at the bar reported the situation to local game wardens. Roberts later took the wolf behind the building and killed it. Photos and videos of the wolf inside the establishment circulated online, causing widespread public outcry and intense scrutiny of Wyoming’s predator laws.
This case focused attention on how the state manages its wolf population. As per NBC News, wolves are protected near Yellowstone National Park but can be killed without a license in most other parts of the state. These areas are often called predator zones.
Roberts initially paid a $250 fine for the illegal possession of a live wolf. A grand jury later moved forward with a felony animal cruelty charge. This second charge addressed the treatment of the animal while it was alive, rather than the act of killing it.
At a hearing in March, Roberts expressed regret for his actions and offered an apology to his family and the community. His lawyers and the prosecutors reached the plea agreement to settle the felony charge before it went to a full trial.
The ruling marks the end of the legal process for an event that sparked discussions about wildlife protection. While killing a wolf is legal in many parts of Wyoming, the law prohibits the intentional mistreatment of a captured animal. Roberts will remain under state supervision until his probation concludes.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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