Wyoming Man Indicted on Felony Animal Cruelty for Wolf Tormenting

Two separate cases in Wyoming and Albany County, Wyoming, highlight serious animal cruelty incidents leading to felony charges. In Albany County, a 60-year-old man named Schmidt was charged with felony cruelty to animals after intentionally striking a horse with a four-wheeler twice, causing injuries severe enough to require euthanasia. Meanwhile, in Wyoming, Cody Roberts was indicted on felony animal cruelty charges for running down a juvenile male wolf with a snowmobile, then torturing and displaying the wounded animal at a local bar before its death. Roberts initially faced only a $250 fine for illegal possession of wildlife, which sparked international outrage and calls for a tourism boycott, especially given Wyoming's lenient laws toward predators like wolves. However, after a rare grand jury proceeding, Roberts was formally charged with felony cruelty to animals, facing up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine, reflecting increased state legislative efforts to toughen penalties for such crimes. These cases underscore growing legal and public attention to animal cruelty in the region, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to justice and accountability.