Roberts changing plea to felony wolf charge
by Joy Ufford
March 2, 2026
PINEDALE – Sublette County resident Cody J. Roberts plans to plead guilty March 5, 2026, to the felony charge of animal cruelty in connection with his February 2024 taking and alleged torture of an injured wild animal.
Roberts, who caught the gray wolf in Wyoming’s predator zone, took the subdued wild animal into a local bar. He pleaded not guilty at his Nov. 10, 2025 arraignment via videoconference.
Roberts, his attorney Robert Piper and prosecutor Sublette County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich posted a plea agreement they submitted to presiding Third District Court Judge Richard Lavery on Feb. 25 – almost two years after the actual incident.
A secret Sublette County Grand Jury, called by Melinkovich, indicted Roberts for the felony charge last August. The charge was then filed in 9th District Court, where Judge Kate McKay passed it to Judge Lavery of Sweetwater County. Roberts’ five-day trial was set to begin March 9 in the Pinedale courtroom with 100 citizens called to appear as potential jurors.
Defense attorney Piper filed notice on Feb. 27 that Roberts intends to change his plea to guilty "pursuant to a plea agreement with the state of Wyoming" and requested the change if plea hearing "as he does not intend to proceed to trial."
Judge Lavery ordered the hearing to take place, with all parties appearing in person, on Thursday, March 5, at 9 a.m. in Pinedale’s Ninth District Courtroom.
The plea agreement states that Piper and Melinkovich will jointly recommend incarceration of 18 months to 2 years, to be suspended, and a fine of $5,000, with $4,000 suspended, in favor of 18 months of county-supervised probation.
Agreed upon conditions of probation:
a. No hunting, including shed hunting, or fishing, whatsoever, for the entirety of probation.
b. No alcohol, or entry into or presence within bard, lounges or liquor stores.
c. Follow all recommended treatment from ASI (substance abuse) evaluation.
d. Standard and additional conditions as enumerated by the Court at the Court’s discretion."
Under the agreement, Roberts also will pay mandatory court costs and assessments and a $300 Victim Compensation surcharge.
The notice of plea agreement notes that Roberts understands Judge Lavery is not obligated to accept it.
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