PINEDALE—Cody Roberts apologized Thursday for an infamous stunt he pulled two years prior, when he brought an injured wolf into a western Wyoming bar, sparking worldwide outrage.
“I sincerely regret my actions and apologize to the community and my family,” Roberts told Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery. The comments, his first public remarks since the incident came to light, came after he pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty in a deal with the prosecution that could keep him from serving time in prison.
The lifelong Sublette County resident told the courtroom in Pinedale that he hopes to move past the incident and looks forward to “healing.” The 44-year-old was clean shaven, wore a black suit coat and looked stoic during the appearance, showing little emotion. Most of his remarks were formulaic, affirming questions from Lavery about the legal process with succinct answers like “yes, sir” and “no, sir.”
One of those pithy retorts was to achieve the primary purpose of the hearing.
“Guilty, your honor,” Roberts told Lavery.
New information about incident
Thursday’s proceedings offered new details about the Feb. 29, 2024, incident, which culminated with Roberts bringing the injured wolf into the Green River Bar in Daniel. The wolf limped during a reluctant walk into the establishment, but by the end of the night it evidently did not have the capacity to move on its own. Roberts carried the injured wolf “like a baby” before taking it outside and shooting it, Sublette County Prosecuting Attorney Clayton Melinkovich told the court.
Roberts’ guilty plea was expected. His attorney, Robert Piper, signed a plea agreement Feb. 17. It calls for a prison sentence of 18 months to two years, which would be suspended in favor of 18 months of supervised probation and a $1,000 fine. Agreed-upon conditions of his probation include: no hunting or fishing; no alcohol, no presence at bars or liquor stores; and a requirement that Roberts follow recommended addiction treatment.
Roberts’ actions put a harsh spotlight on Sublette County, and it divided the small community of 9,000 residents. Details of the incident fueled the public response. Roberts, who owns a trucking company, acquired the canine by striking it with a snowmobile until it was “barely conscious,” according to a Game and Fish official. Melinkovich on Thursday did not detail how the wolf was captured — striking predators with snowmobiles remains legal in Wyoming — other than specifying that he took possession of it on private land.
At the bar, the father of four made a joke of the whole ordeal, according to an eyewitness. While clutching a beer, he posed for photos with the animal, which had its muzzle taped shut. The wolf, meanwhile, stayed prone on the floor for much of the evening. That’s unusual behavior for a captive wild wolf that suggests it was suffering from severe internal injuries, according to biologists who’ve reviewed the footage.
Asked on Thursday if Melinkovich provided the correct account of Feb. 29, 2024, Roberts said “pretty close.” Pressed by Lavery, he did not dispute any specific details.
Public outrage
When photos and videos of Robert’s stunt became public in April 2024, an intense, widespread uproar resulted, with state-run social media pages even going dark because of the global criticism. Outrage was exacerbated by what the public perceived to be a light punishment: Wyoming Game and Fish Department wardens fined Roberts $250 for possession of warm-blooded wildlife, even though steeper penalties were available.
The state wildlife agency maintained that the wolf — because it was classified as a “predator” where Roberts acquired it — was not covered by Wyoming’s animal cruelty laws. But Sublette County law enforcement had a different legal interpretation. The local sheriff launched an investigation, and in August the local prosecutor convened a grand jury that indicted Roberts for felony animal cruelty.
If a jury had convicted him, the Daniel man faced a maximum of two years in prison. Initially, Roberts pleaded not guilty, and his attorney Robert Piper sought to have the case dismissed, making the same contention as the Wyoming Game and Fish Department: that wolves were exempted from animal cruelty statutes. Lavery, however, wasn’t persuaded and moved the case toward an early March trial.
The judge will hang up his robe in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, Gov. Mark Gordon announced he’d appointed the Sweetwater County District Court judge’s replacement due to an upcoming April retirement. Clark Stith, a Rock Springs attorney and former member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, will be taking Lavery’s place.
Lavery on Thursday walked through some of the next steps in Roberts’ protracted legal case. The judge told the parties he “appreciates the work” on the plea agreement, but would not rule on it pending a standard pre-sentencing investigation.
Legal repercussions are already unfolding for Roberts, who remains out on bond with a number of conditions. The avid sportsman can no longer possess firearms and proactively removed firearms from his possession, according to Piper.
There will be related longer-term implications of the felony conviction, Lavery told Roberts before he pleaded.
“It will restrict your rights to have a gun,” said Lavery, who noted the consequences for both “hunting and outfitting.”
The bond conditions also prohibit Roberts from consuming alcohol or controlled substances and from going to bars or “private parties.”
5,000 emails
Roberts’ guilty plea and the agreement that triggered it caused a flood of outreach to Lavery’s office. He told the court he was “struck” by the response, which included “countless phone calls” and “at least 5,000 emails.”
“There are a lot of people out there who want to know why there was a plea agreement in this case,” Lavery told the court.
The judge was clear that the outreach “falls on deaf ears.”
“I won’t be reading those emails and I won’t be talking to those [folks] on the phone,” Lavery said. “It would be improper for me to do that.”
There have been mixed views in Sublette County and beyond about Roberts’ plea deal. Many locals thought he would have beat the charge at trial, which would have started Monday. Wildlife advocates who ventured to Pinedale and paid attention to the Thursday proceedings from afar continued the trend of a split reception.
“If running over a wolf with a snowmobile and displaying it wounded in a bar doesn’t lead to jail time, that leaves us asking: ‘What does?’” said Dagny Signorelli, the Wyoming representative for Western Watersheds Project.
But Jackson Hole resident Lisa Robertson, an animal rights activist, said last week she found the agreement satisfactory — and on Thursday she argued there was a broader meaning to Roberts’ declaration of guilt.
“It’s not just Cody Roberts on trial here,” Robertson said. “It’s Wyoming, too.”
Wyoming Wildlife Advocates Executive Director Kristin Combs was on a similar page.
“Wyoming is finally coming into the 21st Century,” Combs said. “I know a lot of people don’t feel like this is enough, but in the grand scheme of things, we are making huge progress.”
Unfortunately, I believe this type of animal torture is common. I found at least one documented case of a wolf being run down by snowmobile in Idaho per the state wildlife “management” agency’s own records — a real surprise that it was actually documented. Wildlife “management” desperately needs a full makeover, as it is dominated by special-interests who assign no consideration to the intrinsic value or suffering of their targets. In the meantime, I support maximum penalties for Roberts because I believe in personal accountability.
While we’re on the subject, Wyoming and other states with the same trapping laws should outlaw any traps that don’t immediately kill the animal. Who on earth decided it was OK to trap an animal by its sensitive feet or hands until it dies a grizzly death. The pain is so intense, and the fear is so egregious that often these animals will chew off their own hands or feet to try and release themselves from the trap. Again, what decent human being or society believes that to be acceptable?? I’m all for hunting, it is after all, more humane than most of the stockyards meat supply are raised in, or the way they are sent to butcher and our “processed”. That’s something else that should be addressed and if you don’t think so you should watch actual footage of these animals who obviously know what they’re headed for to the point that someone will die of a heart attack in line awaiting their demise. These are the lucky ones……
Man, you don’t want big conibear traps anywhere on land.
You say this animal was a predator like it somehow justifies this monster‘s behavior. The sad thing is, he’s apparently just a “regular guy” acting in a way that he obviously thought was normal, leading me to believe that there are many more who think like him… (Just check out Facebook)
There is absolutely NO justification on earth for subjecting ANY life to torture, humiliation and death. Even if there were some perceived cause, as in protecting one’s livestock, etc., there should only be an immediate and clean kill. It shows the depravity of a human who enjoys the torture of another living being and the depravity of a society that doesn’t righteously and to the full extent of the law, punish that behavior. Do the right thing.
I agree with Lisa Robertson. Wyoming is on trial. That this incident didn’t lead to a change in the animal cruelty laws to extend to all wild animals, including predators, is unconscionable. One would think that “cruelty” is simply not allowed. Rather, it appears that cruelty for fun and games is okay, so long as it’s not an animal we know. Wyoming lawmakers need to search their hearts, not their brainstem good ol’ boy attitudes. I’m glad to see some punishment here…and hope to further see it the state follows through by revisiting the law.
Alfonso Guglielmo I have been hunting and fishing for the better part of my life I am 77 yrs old when I turned 16 in 1964 my dad had me take the test to squire a big game license and always instilled in me and taught me to respect nature and wildlife and never let an animal suffer I find it comical and concerning that now in the 21st century anyone has the audacity to say Wyoming is (basically)just becoming civilized Cody Roberts behavior is unforgivable he knew exactly what he was doing he needs jail time and never to pocess any firearm never to be allowed fishing or hunting and at minimum a 10,000 fine and lose possession of his snowmobile and never to own one again to do what he did takes a special kind of mean and he deserves a special kind of justice
Alfonso Guglielmo
Thank you for this continued coverage. And hope you are able to follow the punishment phase for compliance AND statewide reactions.
Wyoming has indeed gotten deserved negative attention from this wild cruelty case and the moose cowboy cruelty case. There are still many more proactive steps the state can take to protect wildlife. It should start by revisiting why any state would allow any species of wildlife to be run down/taken with any motorized vehicle! Then clean up other statutes and administrative rules on things like allowing a 13 day trap check window for some traps! And allowing trappers to transport and cage native furbearers to inhumanely collect urine from them to removing domestic cats from the unprotected predator list! And how about designating at least one large trap free zone in every county so that hikers and hunters can have space to recreate without worrying if they can get back to their vehicle with a live uninjured dog!
What is wrong with the State of Wyoming???? What is wrong with these judges?????I
Debra Stafford. I was appalled to hear about this story and that a plea was offered. Prosecute to the full extent of the law.
I am also appalled that Wyoming allows you to chase wolves down by snowmobile. I feel that gives people permission to be cruel to wolves and maybe other animals. Especially people with bad character and judgement as this case shows
A If there is overpopulation euthanize quickly and professionally if there is a need. Animals are innocent and live according to their instincts. No animals deserve to be treated inhumanely. As humans we should know and be better.
I would like to know why the people photographing and or recording the incident weren’t held liable as well, also the owner of the bar, where is his responsibility in all this?
Great question!! They are culpable and should be held liable as well.
In case nobody replied: the owner of the bar evidently is Robert‘s aunt
It sickens me to think that any creature could be treated like this and gotten away with. I hope he does time and gets a little jail justice.
cody roberts isn’t the real problem. animal abuse and lack of respect for life is everywhere you look. wyoming isn’t the problem either. were just one place out of the entire earth that it is happening. there is little respect for life, plants, animals, the earth, people, environments. we live in a massive consumption of everything era. if its in the way get rid of it. robert’s case is just one blip on the screen that got blown up. our ecological problems and the roots of our abuse of animals runs very deep.
In a legal case similar to Cody Roberts torture of the wolf, Justin Martin, an Evanston area Wyoming Livestock Board Brand Inspector along with Range H. Martin of Evanston, and Kylan W. Platt of Malad City, Idaho, are going to trial for allegedly torturing a cow moose on Justin Martin’s M Arrow Ranch on May 4, 2021. The judge in the case ruled that, along with other video evidence and testimony presented, there’s enough for a jury to decide if the men had “intent (to) torture or torment” the moose.
These three vile individuals videoed themselves lassoing, riding, spurring and dragging with a horse, a sickly cow moose in poor condition. Justin Martin is employed by the State of Wyoming as a Uinta County Brand Inspector. The Wyoming Livestock Board’s official website (https://wlsb.state.wy.us) provides additional information about Justin Martin and his position as a Wyoming Brand Inspector.
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If a person doesn’t know better than to torture another person or an animal, they are a danger to all of us. Ignorance, cruelty, and hate are rampant in the wild west. We are evolving, but not all at the same pace.
Another case of someone who fell under the yoke of I can do whatever I want to predators such as the wolf with impunity, triggering the old adage of people of this sort don’t clean up their act, others will do it for them. If they don’t like the results, they only have themselves to blame.
The sentence for the crime Cody Roberts committed is way too light. Justice and an example needs to be set. Put him in jail
There’s no excuse of any adult to abuse an injured animal that he struck & abused publicly photos entering a place that animals are not allowed I believe?
Our wildlife what’s left of it needs a voice for protection from abusers, that abuse for no reason! What has happened to humanity as the animals are humans doing wrong!!!
I am proud of Florida that Justice finally for those that can’t speak & defend themselves from such evil humans that abuse any animal no difference than to abuse a newborn that can’t stand up to a abuser!
The Gambles here in Clearwater Fl are looking at 20 years of prison time & so much more! It’s a felony time to follow through with jail time & more! Enough of abusing any animal!
Hopefully this will end the cruelty that man endured on that beautiful creature. I believe the bar owners should face penalties as well to allow this in their establishment. He should never be allowed to hunt again. My belief is he probably would do this again.
I have lived in Colorado my entire life. I was taught to respect nature and wildlife. I have lived in the deep woods amongst wildlife my entire life.
I have never understood people that disrespect life, that torture and kill for FUN. The sickening aspect of this is the innocence lost, the precious and beautiful loss of life at the hands of someone without respect, without honor, who thinks his actions will somehow make him THE MAN in the eyes of others in his community. This story makes me so sad and every day I hear about people mistreating another life and acting out in terrible and despicable ways, I lose more faith in humanity. At some point those of us that actually do have respect for and honor life, ALL LIFE, need to stand up and make the change that is desperately needed. Mr. Roberts should go to prison, pay the appropriate fine and maybe only then will the message begin to sink in. He should be an example of what happens if you act in such a way. The wilderness, the wildlife, all things wild and free should be respected and honored, NOT killed behind a bar in a whiskey blizzard of drunken ego. People react to stories like this one, but then it fades and nothing changes. Mr. Roberts is cruel and his reckless disrespect for life has been witnessed by his children. That is disgusting to me. The plea deal reduces this to basically nothing for him, a little bit of money and probation. The wolf paid with its life after being tortured, death was its escape. I am truly disappointed, saddened and disgusted.
I agree Wyoming is making progress, hope this continues to bring aware, wild life has to be respected and we have to co- exist.
Prison!!!!
Also take his snowmobile because that is the weapon he used to injure the wolf pup.
Insane the original slap on wrist.
There’s no way this was an isolated incident. Roberts’ actions reflect a pattern of behaviour and a personality type that is dangerous to others, human and animal. You don’t suddenly acquire empathy, morality and self-restraint. He can’t police his actions, so the state needs to do it for him. Moreover, WY needs to make a precedent of this case . The penalty must be a sufficient deterrent and it needs to catalyze systemic change. I once loved WY and the American west. Now, I intend not to return there, and will inform others that plan to visit the state that unfortunately, in WY cruelty is regarded as culture. The world is watching, WY has one chance to signal that its days of wildlife abuse are over. People visit the region for the wildlife and wilderness. Cody Roberts and others like him are a liability to the states reputation. Justice MUST be done
Yes Gina, tell everyone you know. I wish the rest of the world would stay away from Wyoming as well
👍
Great reporting on this story throughout the years, Mr. Koshmrl. Kudos!
The problem here isn’t Cody Roberts the individual, but “whacking” as a recreational sport.
So long as wolves, coyotes, foxes, racoons, porcupines, skunks, jack rabbits and even stray cats can be run over with impunity on 85% of Wyoming territory, the state will carry a loathsome reputation.
A reputation undeserved, because most Wyomingites respect wildlife and detest animal cruelty.
The fix? More residents should boldly speak out about this, dispel a “spiral of silence” about animal abuse, and work together to create change.
Hear, hear!
The reason it was severely injured is because HE repeatedly ran it over with a snowmobile. He wasn’t cradling it like a baby to comfort it he was making fun of it for not being able to do anything about it. He knew the whole time he was going to kill it. Just let it suffer for hours and let others make fun of it as well. Everyone in the bar should be held responsible. They are just as guilty for not stopping it. Just because he apologized…big deal. Doesn’t excuse the pain and suffering of that poor wolf. Not setting a very good role model for his children. He needs to be made an example of not a slap on the wrist.
Exactly!!!! He thought this was a big joke. Taking a life is funny to him.
One of the most troubling facts is one of his children was there that night, filming and partaking in the ridicule. The child is blameless but both parents deserve scrutiny, one of whom holds local public office.
Karma is coming his way!
Cody should be punished for real..the fullest of all sentences should be handed down. He is stating..sorry..only because of the spotlight on him. This horrible animal abuse should be …setting an example..that this abuse will not be tolerated, period. Let’s set the laws and rules, now. Cody started it, now let the good and right, finish it. Set the right ways now.
America, Brothers and Sisters when you give up any portion of your “Liberty” consciously for your “SAFETY”and emotions and allow for a “PRECEDENCE” to be set that secured our Liberty then the consequences of this ensures regrets in the future of your “LIBERTIES” on other “RIGHTS” secured by our Constitution as Americans.
Of course the activities here are controversial but AMERICAN in culture more specifically the mid-west but STILL American.
This individual has been a “PAWN” and LEVERAGED like a predator/animal at a cost of his and YOUR LIBERTIES.
This American is being paraded to the WORLD that has NO CONSTITUTION or CONSTITUTIONAL understanding or life similar enjoyment to LIBERTY as we do in THESE United States of America.
He, his family, friends, neighbors and community has had to endure through this parading but his life was continuing to happen as all of the above but gratefully he was not required to remain or stay in a cage/dungeon unable to provide for his family, your our family and I include you and I because this PRECEDENCE will have your and our Liberty(ies) in the balance not because of JUSTICE but “JUST US” a very slow temperament of Democracy and not a Republic.
This American has been paraded two years and has placed a financial statement in and on his life that most would have been financially DESTROYED and or financially CRIPPLED beyond repair.
So he’s not “out of the woods” YET and the DEAL he made was BAIT for our LIBERTY(IES) to get a PRECEDENT set in stone and satisfy a democracy and weaken this Republic be assured of that because of the DEAL that each and EVERYONE “swallowed hook line and SINKER”.
YES a JURY should have been done by his peers/AMERICANS and “JUSTICE SERVED” unto an American by AMERICANS and reinforcement of what our CONSTITUTION means to each and every American in support of our Constitution.
Let’s HOPE and PRAY as a NATION UNDER GOD that “JUST US” does not prevail for a PRECEDENCE and that AMERICAN JUSTICE is served but yet and still the predator was taken outside and eliminated but in this scenario is this action of a metaphoric value or PRECEDENT hmmmmmmm 🤔 is the Judge’s retirement coincedental or tactic and to what ENDS? The bait is still ripening just not in a cage but on a leash and with a muzzle on it as well, AMERICANS are we enjoying our fellow American being treated as this and like this? WHO’S NEXT?
Again WYOFILE I have to thank you for your example of our FIRST AMENDMENT under these extreme circumstances and possible outcome but the value of our FIRST AMENDMENT is VITAL to our LIBERTY. Semper Fi!
This isn’t about liberty or safety (except for the safety of others he might abuse). I’m from the west and appreciate the western spirit and lifestyle. I understand that people hunt for food and sport. Preventing cruel torture doesn’t infringe on anyone’s rights. He brought the scrutiny on himself. Hopefully he can make amends to his family, community and the public.
This comment was all over the place but let me tell you this—this sets no legal precedents that take away your “liberties” except the liberty to keep a captured animal alive and suffering. Only one law has passed after this, which mandates that animals like this one be put out of their suffering immediately after capture. Introduced legislation to ban wolf whacking failed. But one day that will become a law too. Liberty to inflict abject pain and suffering should be limited. If we can’t run over humans why should it be ok to run over animals? Science shows we are both capable of feeling pain. The government already reimburses ranchers for small numbers of cattle lost to wolf attacks. Wolves are an endangered species. Don’t act like this case is going to take away your ability to hunt. It won’t. Even hunt wolves. One day they will put a permitting system on them like other animals, even though they are predators. They will limit you to one or something. What liberties are most important to you man? These legal precedents don’t take much away. It does ensure that the next person who torments a suffering wild animal will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Is that not a good thing? What liberties does that cause you to lose? If we pass a law that requires leg traps to be checked every 24 hours instead of 72, and put in a rule that enforced a setback of several Hundred feet off of hiking trails, what liberties do you lose? You’re still trapping, you just have to be more responsible and do less harm to others using the public area. Does it piss you off we have to wear seatbelts now? Is making something safer taking away a liberty? Maybe in other situations, yes, but not in these.
He probably would have been acquitted.
“Convicted Felon” leaves a mark I’m guessing.
Convicted felon doesn’t seem to matter in the White House.
TDS much mike!
He killed an innocent, defenseless animal after bringing into a bar and getting a kick out how it was aquired with all his buddies, had some beers and then when he was all done showing off and abusing it he took it out back and shot it! Ya really think he regrets mistake? Highly unliked. He could have very easily let the poor wolf go but noooo he took it out back and shot it! He’s a useless humans being with no regard to life whether it be for an animal or human! He deserves the maximum punishment for this crime. No exceptions!
Carol, he wouldnt be in trouble if he had just shot it when he found it.
Killing it wasnt the crime.
Maybe it should be.
Letting it go when so terribly injured would have prolonged its suffering. It shouldn’t be legal to torture animals anywhere.