GREEN RIVER—A Sweetwater County judge on Wednesday told Cody Roberts’ defense attorney that his interpretation of state law as it relates to predators “goes too far,” a suggestion that the Daniel resident’s felony animal cruelty charge is headed toward a March jury trial.
District Court Judge Richard Lavery did not rule from the bench after a 2 1/2-hour hearing on a motion to dismiss the case and exclude an expert witness. A written decision is forthcoming, he said.
But Lavery made it clear that he wasn’t persuaded by a primary argument posed by Roberts’ attorney, Robert Piper: Specifically, that there is a “specific, clearly enumerated exception” in Wyoming statute that exempts the “hunting, capture, killing or destruction of any predatory animal” from the state’s animal cruelty laws.
“It just seems a bridge too far that the state can’t pursue [charges],” Lavery told the courtroom. There’s “at least a space,” he added, for Sublette County Prosecuting Attorney Clayton Melinkovich to present evidence in pursuit of a conviction.
On Feb. 29, 2024, Roberts took a muzzled wolf into the Green River Bar in Daniel for hours, appearing to make a joke out of the injured animal’s plight in photographs taken that night. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department fined him $250 for possession of warm-blooded wildlife, declining to send the case to court in pursuit of stiffer penalties. When photos and videos became public about a month later, the incident incited global outrage and condemnation that rattled the small western Wyoming community.
Communicating about the incident in 2024, Wyoming wildlife managers also cited a predatory animal exemption in the animal cruelty laws. Last legislative session, lawmakers also passed a bill that stiffened penalties for tormenting or torturing captured animals that included predator species.
But Sublette County law enforcement officials said from the onset that they were pursuing their own prosecution. Last summer, Melinkovich convened a grand jury that indicted the 44-year-old Daniel resident on a felony animal cruelty charge that carries with it a prison sentence of up to two years.
Roberts pleaded not guilty in November. Alone, sporting a mustache and wearing a suit coat during Wednesday’s proceedings, the defendant never spoke. All parties appeared virtually before Lavery, who sat in his chambers.
Expert witness
The first hour of Wednesday’s proceedings focused on a motion from Piper that sought to exclude a potential expert witness in the state’s prosecution, Wyoming wolf biologist Ken Mills.
Mills testified during the hearing. After cross examining the biologist, Piper argued he lacked the credentials to judge the behavior of a wolf in an unusual indoors environment. Mills has only published one peer-reviewed article about wolf-human interaction, the attorney ascertained through questioning before taking issue with suspected pending testimony he described as a “video necropsy.”
“There was no necropsy,” Piper said. ”There can be no assessment of suffering.”
Being examined by Melinkovich, Mills testified that he’s personally handled 250 to 300 wolves over his career and that a “quarter to a third” of those animals were not chemically immobilized but instead physically restrained. He said he was acquainted with how they behaved when they were subdued, and that most wolves would “submit” but also promptly flee once restraints were removed and they had the chance to get away.
Melinkovich seized on that point: “Not a single one of them stuck around — that’s the point,” he said. “Your honor, I would suggest that Mr. Mills testimony is highly relevant.”
The wolf in the Green River Bar appeared languid and was lying down for an extended period of time, according to an eyewitness. Retired Yellowstone wolf biologist Doug Smith told WyoFile that its behavior suggested that the animal was “recovering from severe injury” with “internal organ damage.”
Lavery did not give a clear indication on how he’d rule about Mills’ status as an expert witness.
Discussing dismissal
Arguing for the case’s dismissal, Piper described the entirety of the wolf’s time in Roberts’ possession as being a long period of “capture.” That’s a word used in the statutory language providing exceptions to animal cruelty for predatory animals. If Roberts could be charged, then so could bow hunters or others who might inadvertently prolong animals’ suffering, he said.
“As the court is well aware, lawful and moral are not synonyms,” Piper said.
Melinkovich has maintained that Roberts’ alleged torment of the wolf doesn’t meet the predatory animal exemption because it was in his possession. The animal cruelty laws apply to all animals, he said.
“A wolf is in fact an animal,” Melinkovich said. “A predator is in fact an animal. Wildlife is in fact an animal. A pest is in fact an animal. All of which are protected by [animal cruelty laws].”
Roberts’ trial is set for March 9 in Sublette County District Court, and is scheduled to last five days.
Lavery told the courtroom that he plans to summon between 90 and 100 jurors. The prosecuting and defense attorneys discussed working together on a questionnaire that will help them weed out jurists and select the panel that will decide the case.
I understand the ranchers financial loss and anger with specific wildlife ie;.mountain lions and wolves. The heinous torture of a wolf by Coty Roberts is inexcusable. The dead wolf should be given a name to personalize and arise protest to penalties of this man to the fullest extent. Also, to enact a law (name of animal) for strict penalities againist torture of wildlife.
Please so the right thing and prosecute soon, quickly and to the fullest extent of the law. Our society must be supported in not accepting such cruel acts.
No, his intent was to torture the wolf. Several of the photos taken that night clearly show a shock collar round the wolf’s neck. How many people in that bar pressed the button? He also deliberately chased and ran over the wolf with a snowmobile. Again torture. Sickening. A trial is necessary. Otherwise all our society has left as recourse is to descend into lawlessness and dispense mob justice.
This has to be one of the most idiotic situations ever. First was the idiot that captured the wolf and took it to a bar. The second was making it illegal to do so. Exactly what law was broken? Disliking some ones stupid actyions does not make them illegal. Exactly what law was broken? Why make taxpayers spend thousand of dollars trying to find and identify the exact law broken?
Has Wyoming got so much money that they want it to blow on this? What benefit is there for Wyoming taxpayers except the state will need more money…..from US to mpay for it?
He will be acquitted by a Sublette County jury, unless he has completely incompetent legal representation.
Human beings have despised wolves for millennia, there is a legitimate reason for that hatred. It is still in the DNA of a good percentage of modern human beings. It is a NATURAL instinct, to not have it is essentially a result of the removal of mankind from the natural world.
Roberts has garnered national attention for his acts. His infamy will not disappear with the acquittal.
That will be a punishment enough for the rest of his life.
He should have just shot the wolf when he found it. His infamy going forward will most likely be punishment enough for most in Sublette County.
Chad, you thoughts leave me totally speechless. I didn’t realize that I have been removed from the natural world.
Why do I keep seeing the wolf referred to as the Predator- clearly, she was a victim of a Predator. Just because she eats meat, like humans do? Humans torture & kill for pleasure, wolves don’t, how disgusting it is to be human.
No evidence of suffering ? Jesus. Watch the video ! Max sentence isn’t even enough , hope other prisoners are animal lovers
We have citizens who run down a wolf and then parade it for his cronies to see in a bar, we have “cowboys” (no real cowboy would do what these three did) torment a moose just for fun. We have a Representative that won’t admit that he was driving impaired and that wants special treatment to skip his random alcohol testing during the legislative session. We have politicians who don’t like verdicts handed down on unconstitutional bills that they wrote, so lets downsize the number of judges until we get enough to side with our views. Eliminate property taxes, in a state that has no income tax. Oh, and I almost forgot, the ivermectin bill allowing OTC sales with no heath care oversight. This is what Wyoming is becoming. I have seen the future, and if we continue down this path, it scares me!
Sublette County jury……..
Do we really need to waste the time and money on this case?
Roberts needs to pay
Yes money should be spent on this case to teach other pigs that it’s not acceptable to apply unnecessary suffering to any animal. This idiot thought he was clever I abusing and petrifying that poor wolf. He clearly has issues and needs to be taught to listen not a nice individual. I would love to bump into him.
Yes, we do. Problem?
This whole case is not legal it is moral. Any ideology that permits torturing and then killing any animal is simply in a ethical space that is wrong. Perhaps the attorney defending Roberts should be run down by a snow mobile – tied up and dragged to a wolf den for presentation to the pack. The point – wolves called cowards, useless, varmint and all the other human construct would never contemplate doing that. How do I know – I don’t. I am judging from their role as ecological keystone; they kept ecosystems in balance for a long time. Guys like Robert’s are architects of destruction. The moral question – can we let him and others get away with it? I do not think so!
The willful incapacitation of an animal and then torture while posing for photos with a beer? You are a genetic abomination and deserve to be penalized to the full extent of the law. That’s the only chance there is for you to understand why what you did was so wrong, so mean, so inhumane and the only way you might reconsider repeating this offense. I hope you get sentenced to the full extent of the law for your CRIMES. You deserve to feel a portion of what you put that living, sentient animal through,
Oh, the ironies of life for Wyoming’s wildlife!
As far as I know, WGFD never sought a post-mortem examination on this wolf’s remains. WGFD is many things, but its leadership is not daft. It knew from the outset that this episode would be sensitive and bad PR if it became public, given the absence at the time of welfare protections for Wyoming’s listed predators. It is a reasonable inference that the department chose to impose its derisory fine on Mr. Roberts to spare its former contractor the embarrassment of a court appearance. This kept the episode out of public view, at least for a month.
It was repeatedly suggested to the Game and Fish Commission that it was germane to have an autopsy performed on the wolf, to document her injuries in life. This was suggested in public testimony by two veterinarians at the April 17, 2024 commission meeting in Riverton. To ensure it was part of the public discussion, I wrote two letters (April 18 and 24, 2024) to the commission president, Richard Ladwig, encouraging the department to get a postmortem done stat. Zip response from Mr. Ladwig. I infer the department’s leadership did not want to know the extent of the wolf’s injuries. The commission was content, and possibly relieved, to see such evidence buried.
It is ironic to now hear Mr. Roberts’ attorney state: “There was no necropsy” and ”There can be no assessment of suffering.” That this claim can be made is the result of decisions made by WGFD and its oversight commission.
Of course, I am assuming no necropsy was done. It is remotely possible that one was, and that report now languishes in a WGFD office.
Leadership at the WY G & F? The last 8-10 years have been marred by poor lackadaisical commissioners and poor executive leadership (including up to NOW). They were very quick to write up a small change ticket to Roberts and sweep this whole thing under the rug. Sorry, Cody, but now you’re facing the music!
The ironies of life for Wyoming’s wildlife!
As far as I know, WGFD never sought a post-mortem examination on this wolf’s remains. WGFD is many things, but its leadership is not daft. It knew from the outset that this episode would be sensitive if it became public, given the absence at the time of welfare protections for Wyoming’s listed predators. It is a reasonable inference that the department chose to impose its derisory fine on Mr. Roberts to spare its former contractor the embarrassment of a court appearance. This kept the episode out of public view, at least for a month.
It was repeatedly suggested to the Game and Fish Commission that it was germane to have an autopsy performed on the wolf, to document her injuries in life. This was suggested in public testimony by two veterinarians at the April 17 2024 commission meeting in Riverton. To ensure it was be part of the public discussion, I wrote two letters (April 18 and 24 2024) to then president of the commission, Richard Ladwig, encouraging the department to get a postmortem done pronto. No response from Mr. Ladwig. I infer the department’s leadership did not want to know the extent of the wolf’s injuries. The commission was content, possibly relieved, to see such evidence buried.
It is ironic to now hear Mr. Roberts’ attorney state: “There was no necropsy” and ”There can be no assessment of suffering.” That this claim can be made is the result of decisions made by WGFD and its oversight commission.
Of course, I can only assume no necropsy was done. It is remotely possible that one was, and the report now languishes in a WGFD office.
the torment and pain that wolf had to suffer has outraged the conscience and essence of human beings nationally and worldwide… it is not to be forgotten, dismissed, or go without punishment….. this is a violent crime against an innocent defenseless creature and the punishment must be harsh and set an example that this despicable torture will not be tolerated
This is not a man what he done to that wolf is pure evil.He needs punished to the fullest extent .Just8ce for that poor baby
Dear Judge
Science based evidence links abuse to animals , limitless cruelty and suffering when demonstrated at this level is a red flag that denotes if left unchecked the ripple effect is limitless , who next is my question? I have no appetite for hunting but here in the UK I respect those who shoot and hunt with animal welfare and conservation at its core , they are able to converse and I am able to actively listen. However I am appalled by the behaviour of this individual and as much as it reflects upon the whole of Wyoming from a global perspective , the law may be limited but cruelty and abuse must have curtail . I write from the UK as I want to let this individual know it is not honour that this information has reached the UK it is a shame that you have brought on your state , do not tell me I don’t know what I am talking about with wolves and their nature , their predatory instincts , nature is fair and acts on survival it does not throw curve balls into it with unnecessary cruelty which impacts the eco -system . I had the privilege of seeing wolves hunt elk in yellow stone park the strategic intelligence applied , the opposite of you
Psychopath. Imagine what he’s done to other animals and people! No boundaries for this one. Put him down.
And yet another atrocity in WYO, EQUALLY IF NOT MORE HORRIFIC THAN CODY ROBERTS. THREE LOWLIFES RODE, SPURRED, BENT ITS LEGS BACK, Drug her by the neck, TERRORIZED AN AILING WEAK MOOSE blind in one eye FOR 3 WEEKS UNTIL SHE DIED 😭 😢 WYO IS LOSING 100’S OF MILLIONS IN TOURISIM REVENUE FOR THE TOLERANCE Of these heinous acts. These monsters deserve prison time and severe condemnation or nothing will change.
Eulogy for a tortured wolf
“We are all animals of this planet. We are all creatures. And nonhuman animals experience pain sensations just like we do. They too are strong, intelligent, industrious, mobile, and evolutional. They too are capable of growth and adaptation. Like us, firsthand foremost, they are earthlings. And like us, they are surviving. Like us they also seek their own comfort rather than discomfort. And like us they express degrees of emotion. In short like us, they are alive.” Joaquin Phoenix
In 2011, I wrote a heartfelt eulogy for wolf 495M, a remarkable wolf who lived in Yellowstone National Park. As the alpha male of Mollie’s Pack, 495M and his packmates inhabited Pelican Valley in the park’s interior and regularly hunted bison instead of elk—no easy feat even for a wolf. And 495M lived to be nine—a noteworthy age for a wolf—until he passed away, likely from a kick from an elk or bison. I also had a personal connection to 495M—he wandered around Yellowstone with my name on his tracking collar, a gift from a friend who donated to support the research. This collar hangs in my office and is one of my most prized possessions. Some of 495M’s hair is still on the collar, and at times, I can almost hear the echo of his howl when I hold it.
My eulogy was celebratory—495M even in his death, had a happy ending. Why? Because 495M got to live and die like a wolf. In 1995, the first captive wolves bounded from their pen into Lamar Valley—and into the environmental history books—and this represented the successful cumulation of years of challenging work to reintroduce the animal to Yellowstone. 495M got to run and hunt and lead a pack as a wild creature, and howl his “outburst of wild defiant sorrow and of contempt for all the adversities of the world” (to borrow some words from Aldo Leopold). Even though his “fierce green fire” went out, it was a happy ending for 495M and for wildlife conservation.
This eulogy for a nameless wolf is far from celebratory. In fact, it is full of equal parts rage and sadness. I write this not to celebrate, like for 495M, our human actions toward our fellow beings, but to condemn them. That I even have to write this eulogy deeply troubles me. I just cannot make sense of such human depravity.
Like many of you, I will never be able to erase the images of that wolf being tortured from my mind. I didn’t want to view them, but I also thought I owed that poor wolf my witnessing what she suffered. We cannot look away from this. We look away from the cruel treatment of animals too often. So I watched once, but I can never view any of them again—I scroll through social media and news articles now, trying to avoid the photos. Witnessing the acts of these evil humans who thought nothing of inflicting such extreme pain and suffering on another being is beyond horrific.
For the rest of my life, even if watch every feel-good video on The Dodo of kindhearted people rescuing a drowning cow from floodwaters or an abandoned puppy off the streets, I will never be able to forget those obscene images.
If you have not seen the photos or videos, here are the terrible details. A Wyoming man, Cody Roberts, ran down a wolf in a snowmobile, which shockingly is not illegal in Wyoming. Instead of killing the wolf, who appears to be a youngster, he captured her, duct-taped her mouth shut, brought her to the Green River Bar and tortured and harassed her. All in full view of the patrons of the bar. Finally, he brought the animal out back and killed her.
What other images can’t I get out of my mind? The laughter and smiles of Robert’s face while he tortured this animal and posed with her. I cannot use any other word but evil to describe someone who laughs while torturing an animal and witnessing their pain
There is absolutely no defense for what these people did, either Roberts, who initiated the torture and killing, or those watching, some cheering him on, who did nothing. After the outrage started over his actions, one of Robert’s relatives even showed support for him by mocking the dead wolf, sharing a photo of herself holding up a wolf pelt and donning blue duck-tape around her face.
Do these people possess any humanity? I just can’t imagine the state of a person’s mind or absence of morality that would allow them to commit such acts. Severe condemnation and consequences are the only morally sound responses, and if officials keep hesitating to charge these people with serious crimes, we must keep applying societal pressure to ensure stronger laws are enacted. A $250 fine for torturing an animal!
I am a person of action. I want to tell everyone to sign petitions, enact new laws and policies, and call for serious consequences to those who mistreat wolves or any other animals no matter what their zip code. But I also recognize this isn’t enough. Something in humanity has to shift. I feel at times it has—I see reforms made, the outrage over Cecil or of killer whales in captivity, and even the global outcry over this tortured wolf gives me some hope. Yet then I look at mass slaughterhouses where barbaric acts are committed every day on animals, or at the millions of unwanted dogs we euthanize every year, and I wonder if we have progressed at all.
Our humanity is judged by how we treat our fellow beings. Violence and torture toward any living thing—human or non-human—should be a crime, but for those who still think we have a right to treat animals any way we want, consider that torture and violence toward animals is according to the FBI and others, a key predictor of psychopathic and violent behavior toward other people.
We as humans have a lot to answer for in our treatment of animals. We can no longer fall back on the old, tired myths of considering animals beneath us, as science even now demonstrates how false those claims were—animals have emotions and individual lives like we do, have complex societal structures, cultures and even languages. Elephants mourn their dead, killer whales possess unique dialects, and studies show that fish feel pain. We are animals, after all, so it was always foolish of us to draw an arbitrary line in the sand, but of course this distinction was made to justify our mistreatment of non-human beings.
“Wolves may feature in our myths, our history and our dreams, but they have their own future, their own loves, their own dreams to fulfill,” wrote Anthony Miles. Those cruel people took away the whatever dreams that young wolf had in her all too short life and erased her future. I don’t know what I believe about the afterlife, but I do know all good dogs go to heaven. And for that poor wolf, who suffered so cruelly, I hope she now lopes across the green hillsides chasing elk, free from any pain, forgetting the terror she experienced the last day of her life. And if an animal heaven does exist, I believe now it is free from humans. We don’t deserve to be there.
Beth Pratt
Conservation leader, author, wildlife advocate
Animals hold a mirror to our humanity, reflecting our capacity for empathy, compassion and coexistence. And because of that, the topic of animal rights isn’t merely about animals – but also about us -about the kind of world we wish to inhabit. Corey Roberts should be convicted and set the precedent animal torture will not be accepted in our country!
What he did to that poor wolf was pure torture! No need to go into details all the pictures and videos say it all! Cody Roberts needs to pay for his animal cruelty and serve mac jail time!
If RC gets away with psychopathic behavior, others like him will do the same. It’s has been decades of political fighting to positively stand for the lives of wolves. I am sure that CR isn’t the only cruel, egotistical anti-social psychopath to have “fun” torturing the innocent. What a disgusting and dysfunctional environment did this vial “person” in come from? Can he be rehabilitated? His jail sentencing and fines must be severe. No deliberation!
Cody Roberts needs PUNISHMENT
“Took a muzzled wolf” — why? Because he says he didn’t muzzle it? And, just how does one approach a wolf to muzzle it?
Thank you for the coverage on the incident.
He should go to trial. What he did was way outside the scope of just killing a wolf. Thank you