Three from One Family Plead Not Guilty to Murder and Manslaughter Charges in Lander Bar Fight Death

In a courtroom heavy with gravity, three members of a Fremont County family—including a federal law enforcement officer—stood before a judge Tuesday and pleaded “not guilty” to charges stemming from a deadly bar brawl in Lander last month.

Brothers Deak and Justin Dollard, aged 53 and 54, along with Justin’s son Jesse, 21, were arraigned in Fremont County District Court. They are accused in the death of 38-year-old Evan Denevan, who was killed during a fight at the Maverick Bar on January 9.

The charges are severe and interconnected:
• Deak Dollard, a U.S. Bureau of Land Management law enforcement officer, faces one count of second-degree murder, with an alternative charge of voluntary manslaughter.
• Justin Dollard faces charges of being an accessory before the fact to either murder or manslaughter.
• Jesse Dollard faces a single count of being an accessory before the fact to manslaughter.

During the arraignment, the three men, dressed in black dress shirts and jeans, sat together. After individually entering their pleas, they sat in the front row of the gallery, where Jesse was seen rubbing his father’s back.

The Fight: Two Stories Emerge

Court documents, including an affidavit from a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agent, paint a chaotic scene from that January night. Initial witness statements at the scene repeatedly told officers, “Deak choked him.”

Surveillance and bystander videos reviewed by investigators reportedly show the incident escalating. According to the affidavit:

1. An argument began between Justin Dollard and Denevan.
2. A physical fight broke out, involving punches between Jesse and Denevan, and then Justin and Denevan.
3. Deak Dollard then entered the fray. The affidavit alleges he placed Denevan in a “rear naked chokehold” from behind and held it for 26-27 seconds. During this hold, Justin Dollard is said to have been pulling on the hood of Denevan’s sweatshirt in the opposite direction.
4. After Deak released his grip, Denevan fell to the floor. Witnesses told investigators Justin then kicked Denevan while he was down.
5. The three Dollard men then walked away. “None of the Dollards attempted to render aid,” the agent wrote.

In police interviews, Justin and Jesse Dollard offered a different account centered on self-defense. They claimed Denevan had been making threats and threw the first punch. They described Deak’s intervention as an attempt to “deescalate the situation.” Both Justin and Jesse stated they did not see what specific hold Deak used and denied targeting Denevan’s neck.

What Happens Next

All three defendants have “stacked” jury trials tentatively scheduled to begin May 4, meaning they are set to be tried one after the other. However, defense attorneys have indicated they will file motions to request separate, individualized trials.

For now, the men remain out of jail on bond: $500,000 for Deak, $200,000 for Justin, and $100,000 for Jesse. The BLM has not publicly commented on Deak Dollard’s employment status following his arrest.