Judge Raises Concerns Over Plea Deal in Natrona County Child Abuse Case, Accepts Guilty Plea

CASPER, Wyo. — A Natrona County District Court judge this week openly questioned prosecutors about the reasoning behind a plea agreement that would spare a Casper man prison time after he admitted to felony child abuse. Michael Clay Crain, 39, pleaded guilty to the charge in exchange for a recommended suspended sentence of two to four years.

During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Catherine Wilking directly asked Assistant District Attorney Pat LeBrun to explain “the thought process behind this agreement” after LeBrun outlined the deal. The prosecution cited potential difficulties in proving a key element of the charge at trial: that Crain was officially “a person responsible for the child’s welfare.”

Crain, appearing by video from the jail, admitted to the judge that he struck a 16-year-old boy “on the quad” (referring to the thigh) multiple times. However, police and medical reports presented a more severe incident. According to a detective’s report, the teenage victim stated that Crain became enraged during a car ride on July 14, pulled over, struck him in the face causing a bloody nose, then placed him in a headlock for approximately 30 seconds. The victim reported that after the headlock, he “saw stars” and vomited before fleeing the vehicle on foot and later seeking treatment at a hospital for his injuries.

Prosecutor LeBrun and Crain’s defense attorney, Clay Simpson, both pointed to the victim’s age—16—and the nature of the relationship as factors in the plea deal. Crain had married the boy’s relative less than a month before the assault. Despite her clear reservations, Judge Wilking accepted the guilty plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. She noted for the record that if she ultimately decides to impose a sentence outside the bounds of the plea agreement, Crain would have the right to withdraw his plea and proceed to trial. A final sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.