Hunter Tortured Injured, Duct-Taped Wolf At Bar Before Fatal Shooting

[Sugar Cookie]

A Wyoming hunter has found himself at the center of public disgust and outrage for torturing an injured wolf before killing the animal behind a bar.

Cody Roberts is accused of running over the young wolf with a snowmobile, causing enough injury to the animal that he was able to capture it. Roberts proceeded to take the wolf home, where he wrapped the snout with red tape before heading to the Green River Bar to show off his injured and muzzled “prize.”

The images from the bar are heart wrenching – Roberts is beaming while the injured, muzzled young wolf sits by his side, terrified and in pain, waiting for life to end.​

Though killing a wolf is legal in the county, torturing a wolf is not. According to the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Roberts was cited for a misdemeanor violation of Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulations, Chapter 10, Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife. The citation carried a paltry $250 fine.

Wayne Pacelle, President of Animal Wellness Action, commented on the abhorrent incident, explaining why the barbaric cruelty must be punished:

“The man who committed this atrocious act of animal cruelty cannot go without punishment under state or federal law, or both. Running over and crushing an animal with a snowmobile, binding the battered and wounded animal’s mouth shut, and deciding to further torment the creature in front of an audience rather than putting him out of his misery is the textbook definition of malicious cruelty. A remorseless, cruel monster like this is a threat to other animals, and a threat to people. The law must speak.”

As reported in the Colorado Sun, Wolf biologist Doug Smith reviewed the video footage and believes this was a yearling born in 2023, making her just nine months of age when she was tortured and killed. “It’s recovering from severe injury, and it’s probably got internal organ damage,” Smith told WyoFile, “The fact that this wolf should be freaking out — and it’s not — indicates it’s in pain and badly injured.”

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A man struck a wolf with a snowmobile, taped the injured animal’s mouth shut and brought it into a bar, prompting moves to tighten Wyoming’s animal cruelty laws.

Wyoming’s animal cruelty law does not currently apply to predators such as wolves. Under draft legislation that will be put in front of a legislative committee on Monday, people would still be able to intentionally run over wolves, but only if they use “all reasonable efforts” to kill it, either on impact or shortly afterwards.

The bill does not specify how a surviving wolf is to be killed after it is intentionally struck.

The fate of the wolf struck last winter in western Wyoming prompted scrutiny of the state’s policies.

Wildlife campaigners have pushed back against reluctance in the ranching state to change laws written after long negotiations to remove federal protection for the species.

Further changes to the draft bill may be in the works, but the proposal being discussed on Monday would not change much, according to Kristin Combs, the executive director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates.

“Everybody is against torturing animals. There is not a person I’ve come across so far that has said: ‘Yes, I want to continue to do that’,” Ms Combs said on Friday.

The man who hit the wolf – and killed it after showing it off – paid a $250 fine for illegal possession of wildlife, but did not face tougher charges.

Investigators in Sublette County said their inquiries into the wolf incident have stalled because witnesses refuse to talk.

On Friday, Clayton Melinkovich, the county attorney, said by email that the case remained under investigation and he could not comment on its details.

Man hits wolf with snowmobile, tapes its mouth shut and takes it to bar – and none of it is illegal

A man struck a wolf with a snowmobile, taped the injured animal’s mouth shut and brought it into a bar, prompting moves to tighten Wyoming’s animal cruelty laws.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Sugar Cookie]

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Sublette County law enforcement officials announced today that a grand jury has indicted Cody Roberts for the charge of felony cruelty to animals, a crime that could put the Daniel resident in prison for up to two years.

The announcement came in a press release that provided few details about the grand jury, which met behind closed doors and is confidential in nature. The 12-person panel, selected by the 9th District Court, met during the second and third weeks of August. After “receiving evidence and deliberation,” the notice said, the grand jury returned a “true bill” resulting in the indictment against Roberts.

Early on during fallout from the incident, which incited global outrage, Sublette County Prosecuting Attorney Clayton Melinkovich suggested that he disagreed with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, which took the lead in responding to the Feb. 29, 2024 incident. Game and Fish has maintained that wolves are not protected by animal cruelty laws in areas of Wyoming where they are designated as predators by the state.

“While many of the animal abuse provisions do not apply to the hunting, capture, killing, or destruction of a predatory animal, there are narrow circumstances where a person could be charged and convicted of animal abuse,” Melinkovich said in an announcement in early April 2024.

Nearly a year and a half later, the grand jury agreed.

In the spring of 2024, Game and Fish’s investigation and subsequent citation were handled without public notice in the days after the incident. Roberts was fined $250 for possessing the wolf, though the investigating wardens could have issued steeper penalties and sent the case to court but declined to take that step. The leniency of the penalty stoked outrage that exploded globally when Roberts’ stunt with the injured wolf became widely publicized, with photos of him and the injured animal spread across the internet.

“Today’s indictment is a step toward recognizing that all predators deserve protection from cruelty — not just pets,” the Mountain Lion Foundation wrote in a Facebook post. “Thank you to everyone who demanded justice. Your voices mattered.”

Reached late Wednesday, Melinkovich, the county prosecutor, said he could not disclose any additional details about the grand jury, a seldom-used vehicle for pursuing felony charges in the state court system. Even the vote of the body — nine of 12 jurists must agree to indict — is considered confidential, he said.

Associated legal documents are also off-limits to the public, he said. They will remain sealed, though attorneys will be able to unearth new evidence that the grand jury was presented. That could include testimony, because grand juries equip prosecutors with subpoena power.

“I have access to [sealed documents], through the state, for prosecution purposes,” Melinkovich said.

Grand jury indicts Cody Roberts, infamous Wyoming wolf captor, on felony animal cruelty - WyoFile

Eighteen months after Roberts’ actions incited global outrage, a grand jury decided the Daniel resident should face felony charges.

wyofile.com

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A Wyoming judge on Wednesday sentenced a Daniel man who made headlines globally for torturing a wolf to supervised probation, with an 18-to-24-month prison term possible if he fails probation.

That’s in accordance with Cody Roberts’ plea agreement and the guilty plea he gave to felony animal cruelty in March.

He is also to avoid hunting, shed hunting, fishing, alcohol, bars and liquor stores during his 18-month probation term. He’s to pay a $1,000 fine, a $300 victim’s compensation fee, $40 for court automation, a $10 indigent legal service fee and $75 for his addiction assessment.

Another $4,000 fine may apply if he fails probation.

He’s also to undergo counseling or treatment, said Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery, who has been filling in for a Sublette County judge who recused herself from the case.

The judge called the crime disturbing, and referenced the public’s outcry over it — mostly from people who don’t live in Wyoming.

Though not itemized in the plea agreement, Lavery added a requirement that Roberts notify his probation agent of any out-of-state travel.

As a convicted felon, he’ll lose his gun and voting rights for life, unless those are restored later.

Roberts had apologized publicly at his March 5 change-of-plea hearing in Sublette County District Court.

Cody Roberts, Wolf Abuser, Gets 18 Months Probation, Prison Possible If He Fails It

Cody Roberts, known for torturing a wolf in February 2024 in Daniel, Wyoming, was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months’ probation and fined $1,000, with…

cowboystatedaily.com

 

[runninfawn]

torturing and killing that poor wolf was more than cruel grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr he hit the wolf with his snowmobile well to me it wasn't an accidental hit he chased it till he hit it ....a lone wolf will run away and if possible hide if they hear loud noises like snowmobiles or smell humans

 

[Sugar Cookie]

torturing and killing that poor wolf was more than cruel grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr he hit the wolf with his snowmobile well to me it wasn't an accidental hit he chased it till he hit it ....a lone wolf will run away and if possible hide if they hear loud noises like snowmobiles or smell humans

I have no issue with him regaining his voting rights in the future but he should never be allowed to own a gun again.

 

[runninfawn]

here even in jail or prison they still can vote........ dif. though he should never be allowed a gun or be around animals domesticated or wild.... he is a person that takes plaisure in torturing animals or if he had accidentally hit that poor wolf a call to wild live workers would have insured that animal was taken care of and released or if too badly injured put down humainly.... that one pic with him posing with the wolf broke my heart that poor wild animal looked as submisive as an abused puppy that learned fighting back only causes more pain grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr