Cody Roberts, accused of torturing and killing a wolf in Wyoming, has agreed to a plea deal that avoids a trial and potential prison time. Under the agreement, he would pay a $1,000 fine and serve 18 months of probation. The incident, which occurred in February 2024, drew widespread attention after photos and videos of the injured animal circulated online.
In February 2024, Cody Roberts allegedly struck a wolf with a snowmobile in Daniel, a small town of about 150 residents located 50 miles south of Jackson, Wyoming. He reportedly taped the animal's mouth shut, displayed it in a rural bar, and later killed it. Images of the bound wolf and video footage showing it barely moving spread rapidly online, sparking public outrage and questions about state wildlife laws.
Roberts initially faced a $250 fine for illegal possession of wildlife. However, in August 2024, a grand jury indicted him on a felony animal cruelty charge, a rare occurrence. His trial was scheduled for March 9, 2025, where conviction could have resulted in up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Last week, Roberts reached a plea deal with Sublette County prosecutors, filed in court on Wednesday. Signed on February 17, 2025, the agreement calls for him to plead guilty or no contest to the felony charge. In exchange, he would receive 18 months of probation, a $1,000 fine, and restrictions including no alcohol consumption, no entry to bars or liquor stores, and no hunting or fishing during that period.
As of Thursday, the trial date remained on the calendar, with no plea hearing scheduled, according to Sublette County District Court officials. Roberts could not be reached for comment, and both the county attorney, Clayton Melinkovich, and Roberts' attorney, Robert Piper, declined to speak.
Wyoming law permits broad methods for killing wolves and other predators in most of the state, including the 85% classified as a predator zone, which encompasses Sublette County. Wolves lack federal protections in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana outside national parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, where hunting is banned and they attract tourists.
The case prompted calls for a tourism boycott in Wyoming, though Yellowstone National Park saw increased visitors in 2024 compared to the previous year. Humane World for Animals expressed support for the plea deal but highlighted legal shortcomings. "At the same time, the case reveals the serious gaps that leave wolves and other wildlife vulnerable to cruelty," said attorney Nicholas Arrivo in an emailed statement. "Like domestic animals, wild animals are at the mercy of humans and deserve respect and legal protection."