A Wyoming man has made a plea deal in a case involving the alleged torture of a wolf. Cody Roberts, who faced accusations of aggressively pursuing a wolf with his snowmobile and later dragging the wounded animal into a bar, has managed to avoid prison time.
Roberts, 44, struck a deal where he must pay a $1,000 fine and complete 18 months of probation, thus avoiding a trial on animal cruelty charges, as reported on Wednesday.
In February 2024, Roberts reportedly hit a female wolf with his snowmobile, then brought it to a bar in the small town of Daniel, seemingly to discuss putting the animal out of its misery.
Photos and videos circulated online showing Roberts smiling, a beer in hand, while he held the wounded wolf with tape over its muzzle, later leading the animal to the back of a building where it was killed.
This incident ignited a wave of outrage and led to scrutiny of Wyoming’s animal cruelty laws, particularly after the state’s Game and Fish Department determined that what Roberts did did not break any laws concerning animal cruelty.
Initially, Roberts was only fined $250 for possessing the wildlife, which struck many as inadequate. Interestingly, Wyoming law permits the killing of wolves and similar predators in numerous ways across most of the state.
Wyoming’s Governor Mark Gordon openly criticized the actions of Roberts, stating that cruelty towards wild animals is unacceptable. Following the incident, he signed a new law in February 2025 prohibiting the torture and possession of wild animals.
Despite wolves being federally protected in much of the United States, they can still be hunted in regions like Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. In fact, in Wyoming, the animals are labeled predators in 85% of the state, making them legal targets in most areas.
When backlash surged after Roberts’s photographs came to light, he was indicted on felony animal cruelty charges in August 2025, as a grand jury found ample evidence against him.
He was initially set to go to trial on March 9 and could have faced a maximum of two years in prison alongside a $5,000 fine, but this changed after he reached a plea agreement.
On February 18, Roberts entered a plea agreement, either pleading guilty or no contest to the felony animal cruelty charge. Part of this agreement includes prohibitions on alcohol consumption and hunting or fishing during his probation period.
If he violates any terms, he risks up to two years in prison and an additional $4,000 fine.
Roberts has a court date approaching for a plea modification hearing, but it’s yet to be scheduled, and the judge must approve the deal. While he intends to plead guilty or no contest, he might still withdraw this plea and opt for a trial or seek a new agreement if the current one is rejected.
