Cody Roberts, a 44-year-old Wyoming hunter indicted for animal cruelty after hitting a female wolf with a snowmobile, bringing the injured animal into a bar, and subsequently killing it, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, thereby avoiding the risk of a long prison sentence.
According to the Cowboy State Daily, Roberts signed the agreement on February 18, 2026, agreeing to plead guilty or no contest to a felony charge of animal cruelty. The deal proposes a $1,000 fine and 18 months of probation. If he violates the conditions of his probation, Roberts faces a maximum of two years in prison and an additional $4,000 fine.
Records show that in February 2024, Roberts hit a wolf with his snowmobile in an area of Sublette County and then brought the live, injured animal into a bar in the town of Daniel. Images that went viral online captured Roberts holding the wolf with its mouth taped shut while standing in the bar with a drink in his hand. The animal was later taken behind the building and shot dead.
Initially, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department fined Roberts $250 for violating wildlife possession regulations, stating that his actions did not violate animal cruelty laws at that time. Wyoming state law allows for the killing of predatory animals like wolves across most of the state, excluding conservation areas like Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Approximately 85% of the state classifies wolves as predatory animals.
Public backlash and political pressure intensified after the images circulated. In February 2025, Governor Mark Gordon signed a law banning the torture and possession of wildlife in a manner that causes prolonged pain. In August 2025, a grand jury indicted Roberts on felony animal cruelty charges.
Roberts was scheduled to appear in court in March 2026 before reaching the agreement. A judge must still approve the plea deal. During his probation period, Roberts is prohibited from consuming alcohol, entering bars or liquor stores, and is banned from hunting and fishing.
If the judge rejects the deal, Roberts can withdraw his guilty plea and request a trial.
Source: Cowboy State Daily; Wyoming court records; Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
