A Sublette County man who captured and brought an injured wolf into a bar in February 2024, where he posed for photographs that later drew global outrage, has struck a deal with prosecutors that could keep him out of prison.
A signed plea agreement filed with the Sublette County District Court and obtained by WyoFile on Wednesday afternoon means that Roberts, 44, would likely no longer face trial. It had been set to begin March 9.
Under the deal, Roberts will withdraw his earlier not guilty plea and plead guilty or no contest to felony cruelty to animals.
The deal was signed by Roberts’ attorney on Feb. 17. It calls for a prison sentence of 18 months to two years to be suspended in favor of 18 months of supervised probation and a $1,000 fine. Additionally, 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 will also be booked and released under the deal’s terms.
A judge must still agree to the deal. That will occur at a later date.
Roberts allegedly acquired the wolf by striking it with a snowmobile, leaving it “barely conscious” on Feb. 29, 2024. Photos and video from inside a western Wyoming bar that night showed him posing for pictures with the animal and even kissing it.
The wolf’s behavior suggests that it was gravely injured, according to biologists who’ve reviewed video of the muzzled animal left prone and barely moving on the floor of the Green River Bar.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department initially handled the incident, issuing Roberts a $250 fine for possession of warm-blooded wildlife. The state agency declined to seek stiffer penalties or jail time, and Game and Fish officials maintained that predatory animals, including wolves, were exempted from felony animal cruelty laws.
Sublette County law enforcement officials disagreed. In August, prosecutor Clayton Melinkovich convened a grand jury that indicted Roberts for felony animal cruelty. That crime could have put Roberts in jail for up to two years, though his plea agreement averts mandatory time behind bars as long as he successfully completes probation.
Prior to accepting the plea deal, Roberts sought to have the case tossed, asserting that Wyoming carved out an exemption in its animal cruelty laws for animals classified as predators, such as wolves. A judge rejected that argument earlier this month.
The next step in Roberts’ legal case is a change-of-plea hearing, expected to occur as soon as next week. At that hearing, Melinkovich will provide a factual basis for Roberts’ guilty plea, according to the agreement. Evidence presented to the grand jury that indicted Roberts in August will remain sealed, though the county attorney has already previewed his arguments during earlier proceedings.
Mixed response
Roberts’ case drew international infamy after photos from the bar became public, resulting in calls to boycott Wyoming over a perception that the state doesn’t take animal cruelty seriously enough.
On Wednesday evening, Wildlife and animal rights activists who’ve closely followed the Roberts’ case had mixed reactions to a deal that would include no incarceration for the Sublette County man, provided he stays out of trouble while on probation.
Jackson Hole resident Lisa Robertson told WyoFile that Roberts’ agreed-to punishment left her “pleased.”
“I feel good about it,” Robertson said. ”Basically, because he admits guilt. And there is a punishment.”
Two out-of-state activists also reached out to WyoFile after news of Roberts’ guilty plea broke. Kim Bean, a Colorado-based wolf advocate, was disappointed that Roberts likely won’t have to answer questions during a trial, and she found 18 months of probation to be light for the crime. But she also remarked that a stiff punishment wasn’t the goal of her advocacy.
“Our end goal has never been to put Cody Roberts in prison,” Bean said. “Our end goal is to make changes in the laws in Wyoming and to show that this should not be happening. There should be laws against this.”
Lawmakers have made repeated efforts — including one successful change to animal cruelty statutes — as a result of the Sublette County incident. Other initiatives have had less traction. There have been four unsuccessful measures to prohibit running over animals with snowmobiles in the Wyoming Legislature and two more in Congress. That’s the alleged tactic Roberts used to capture the wolf.
Jonas Black, an animal rights activist out of Texas, told WyoFile that he was underwhelmed by the plea agreement.
“Of course, we all had pipe dreams of him getting jail time,” Black said. “Is this what we all hoped for? No.”
“But it is a step in the right direction,” he added. “Change is on the way.”
Well at this point it is good to make Roberts accountable for what went down with this plea deal. It also gives him enough slack to hang himself by his choice if he breaks the deal he signed a day late after it expired. How this will get monitored is key. Tom Gagnon you and your we group my need to take a look at your treatment of others,not everyone is a we in your group. Good luck to all.
I believe that, in addition to his $250 fine, Cody Roberts should do 500 hours of community service (over the course of a year) helping Wyoming Game and Fish in their interactions with wolves and other large scale animals. At the end of his service, at a Sublette County community meeting, Roberts should explain what he has learned and how he feels about his previous action about running down, then exhibiting the wounded animal at a bar.
To answer the gentleman’s question about 2nd amendment rights, this is what Google has to say on the matter. “In Wyoming, a felon convicted under state law generally cannot own or possess firearms. However, individuals with a first-time, nonviolent felony conviction in Wyoming may have their firearm rights restored five years after completing their sentence, probation, or parole. Violent felons must seek a pardon from the Governor to restore rights.” So on the surface it would appear as such, although I’m not a lawyer and the plea agreement doesn’t specifically state as such. IDK
For everyone that wanted Roberts to suffer greater consequences than the agreement, I understand how and why you feel as such, but in reality this is probably the best solution. There was no guarantee that a jury would have found him guilty, I feel it could have been an uphill battle. Plus, why should the state shell out $$$ to house him for his term of incarceration. I like the idea of community hours as someone suggested. Bottom line, let’s try to look past the horrible act that Roberts committed, it’s history, it’s time to move on. My hope is that Roberts has learned from this, and that others who have a predilection to this kind of cruel behavior understand that it is not acceptable.
Well said, BJ.
How this wolf was treated is mirrored in how we treat immigrants, the disabled, gay people, and brown, black and red people, and liberals and environmentalists, Jews and Muslims and Catholics and genuine Christians, too, and just maybe you sometime soon. To help break the cycle, put Cody Roberts in jail for a meaningful amount of time, and a big fine, too, and that guy should never be allowed on public lands again or allowed to own a gun. He needs rehab as well.
Must every discussion include liberal politics? Don’t cloud this topic with your own agenda. This has nothing to do with anything other than a miserable, cruel man who is despicable. He tortured and killed a young wolf. How does that correlate to civil rights?
Though i dont have all the research data in hand, i can safely say that research HAS consistently found a strong link between animal cruelty and subsequent violence towards humans and general violent antisocial behaviors. And the picture sure looks like Mr Robert’s was enjoying himself as he tortured that poor animal. Watch out for his next victim people. No probation officer can keep 24/7 watch.
Just a slap on the wrist. Another felon gets off easy.
Who is going to monitor these plea agreement conditions? Will he have to take a breathalyser test every day? How in the world will disallowing him to not fish or hunt change his mindset on torturing animals? Once he gets back to drinking with his friends, what will he have learned? He needs to perform about 1000 hours of community service helping wolf conservation groups or better yet, PETA.
I cannot help but notice the the extreme reactions in both directions on this. We used to be a nation of laws that we wanted to be not only “JUST”, but merciful and sensible. We had respect for “Rule of Law” and understood that justice was applied in a measured way to achieve the objectives of a sane society. A personal ethos that would allow for intentional cruelty to any living thing makes you wonder what has happened to our society. Unfortunately in America we now see cruelty all around us, even being inflicted on our fellow man, and some folks are alright with that. It is such a sadness this has happened to us as a society.
I am disappointed that the plea agreement was so soft on him but change takes time and it is on the way. I suppose the restrictions on alcohol will be the toughest on him especially if he is addicted.
This is why we have a corrupt government, corrupt Wall St executives, and corruption running rampant through our little communities here in Wyoming. There is no justice if we aren’t going to hold people accountable.
Good, the sooner the story dies the better.
He will never make a similar mistake again.
Wyoming can and should do better about protecting animals from this cruelty. This is a travesty to let this grinning guy ever be out on the streets or hunting again. He’s clearly enjoying being nothing but cruel.
People like Cody Roberts deserve the FULL penalty of the law for troturing a wild animal. God will give him a much greater penalty in due time. What a despicable human being! Trapping wild animals is also a form of torture that is allowed,
I totally agree Deborah
Good morning!
This American is going to “probably” accomplish everyone’s desires, dreams and goals because what are the chances this is a precedent “We the people” are going to regret down in the future, this is patience sitting and being executed and this precedent does have “TEETH” but I have enjoyed the clamoring performance(s) but is this “JUSTICE or JUST US” we will ALL soon see and “PRIDE” comes before a “GREAT FALL” enough of that but here is the beauty of this “FIRST AMENDMENT” EXERCISE that is going to haunt us all and put before everyone’s very eyes to read:
“A judge must still agree to the deal. That will occur at a later date.”
“DEAL”… Yes we have JUST begun to deal with the fall out you/we have so much have desired and the FIRST AMENDMENT was there in this Republic and the “DEAL” is on the TABLE and the end game is what Life served for and of a Democracy exercising: JUSTICE or JUST US”? Have a wonderful morning and the rest of your day while we all still can before this precedent sharpens it’s teeth for the future of our children and grandchildren.”
“Under the deal, Roberts will withdraw his earlier not guilty plea and plead guilty or no contest to felony cruelty to animals.”
Does this mean Roberts also loses his 2nd Amendment right to possess or own firearms?
IMO he got off with a wrist slap.
What? Cody can’t be hanging around the other inbreds at the Green River Bar? I bet the urge to slip in and have a cold one will be too much for Roberts. No hunting? I’m sure that in time he’ll be sneaking out into the woods. He may lay low for a while but We haven’t heard the last from Cody Roberts, mark my words
I feel like these pictures have disgraced this man, the people of Cody, and the decent people in the entire state of WY. Will you please stop putting them on your front page every other week?
‘I feel like these pictures have disgraced this man, the people of Cody, and the decent people in the entire state of WY. Will you please stop putting them on your front page every other week?”
Maybe Cody shouldn’t have disgraced God by treating God’s animals with cruelty.
You ever think God is actually being merciful and not giving Cody the same treatment as he did the animal? Sounds to me the treatment Cody, which is being publicly shamed, is him getting mercy and justice.
Much too small a $ fine. Should be something that hurts to pay. $100,000 would have been more like it. And permanent loss of hunting and fishing rights.
You should be in jail ! Animal cruelty! And your fine should be bigger than what it is ! What you did to this animal, should be done to you ! Disgusting!
I am disappointed in this outcome. It is not enough in my opinion. Particularly with all of the work that has happened up to this point. A fine of $1,000 is still too low and he should have a much longer probation with no hunting for a longer period. We will keep pushing for change.
This scumbag deserved jail. All he is getting here is a slap on the wrist. He also never be allowed to hunt again. What a disgrace.
I agree with you Mr. Boero, that he should have served time in prison for this horrific act. But the outcome for Cody Roberts is more than a “slap on the wrist”. He’s pleading guilty to a FELONY! A felony conviction has major ramifications, such as never being allowed to own a firearm or vote. It will impact his future in many ways, none of them positive. If he had gone to trial there was no guarantee that a jury would have found him guilty. Now, he is guilty, period. You’re very misinformed stating that he will never hunt again. That is simply wrong! Education yourself before making these erroneous statements.
Well who didn’t see this coming? He’ll never see 1 day of jail. This is better than a small slap on the wrist, but does it change anything? I’d like to see him volunteer at an animal shelter or wildlife rehab. He pulled the AA/rehab card and they fell for it. He should lose fishing/hunting FOREVER among other punishments. I’m disappointed.
I think he got off easy. Addiction is not a good reason for doing bad things. But., I hope he gets help and I think all the publicity good or bad will help animals be more protected.
Kristy noem got off and what she did was pretty cruel. And to write about it in a book it was just wrong wrong wrong.
Good morning!
This American is going to “probably” accomplish everyone’s desires, dreams and goals because what are the chances this is a precedent “We the people” are going to regret down in the future, this is patience sitting and being executed and this precedent does have “TEETH” but I have enjoyed the clamoring performance(s) but is this “JUSTICE or JUST US” we will ALL soon see and “PRIDE” comes before a “GREAT FALL” enough of that but here is the beauty of this “FIRST AMENDMENT” EXERCISE that is going to haunt us all and put before everyone’s very eyes to read:
“A judge must still agree to the deal. That will occur at a later date.”
“DEAL”… Yes we have JUST begun to deal with the fall out you/we have so much have desired and the FIRST AMENDMENT was there in this Republic and the “DEAL” is on the TABLE and the end game is what Life served for and of a Democracy exercising: JUSTICE or JUST US”? Have a wonderful morning and the rest of your day while we all still can before this precedent sharpens it’s teeth for the future of our children and grandchildren.
Addiction? To snowmobiling? I heard that can lead to possible NASCAR tendency!