Cody Roberts Apologizes, Pleads Guilty to Felony Animal Cruelty in Infamous Wyoming Wolf Case

Cody Roberts, the Sublette County man whose 2024 stunt of bringing an injured wolf into a Wyoming bar sparked worldwide outrage, pleaded guilty Thursday to felony animal cruelty, offering his first public apology since the incident.

“I sincerely regret my actions and apologize to the community and my family,” Roberts told Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery. The 44-year-old, clean-shaven and wearing a black suit coat, showed little emotion during the hearing, offering brief, formulaic responses before entering his plea: “Guilty, your honor.”

The Feb. 29, 2024, incident began when Roberts struck the wolf with a snowmobile—a legal practice in Wyoming—and took possession of the injured animal on private land. According to Sublette County Prosecuting Attorney Clayton Melinkovich, Roberts later carried the wolf “like a baby” into the Green River Bar in Daniel, where the animal stayed prone on the floor for much of the evening.

The wolf’s muzzle was taped shut. Roberts, clutching a beer, posed for photos with the animal. Biologists who reviewed footage said the wolf’s unusual stillness suggested severe internal injuries. At the end of the night, Roberts took the wolf outside and shot it.

When photos and videos became public in April 2024, global outrage followed. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department initially fined Roberts $250 for possession of warm-blooded wildlife, drawing fierce criticism. But local law enforcement pursued a different path: in August, a grand jury indicted Roberts for felony animal cruelty.

His attorney, Robert Piper, sought dismissal, arguing wolves were exempt from animal cruelty statutes. Judge Lavery wasn’t persuaded and moved the case toward trial.

Thursday’s plea agreement calls for a suspended prison sentence of 18 months to two years, replaced by 18 months supervised probation, a $1,000 fine, and conditions including no hunting or fishing, no alcohol, no bars, and recommended addiction treatment. Lavery deferred ruling pending a pre-sentencing investigation.

The case drew more than 5,000 emails and countless calls to Lavery’s office. The judge said the outreach “falls on deaf ears.”

Wildlife advocates had mixed reactions. Kristin Combs of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates called the plea “huge progress.” But Dagny Signorelli of Western Watersheds Project asked: “If running over a wolf with a snowmobile and displaying it wounded in a bar doesn’t lead to jail time, that leaves us asking: ‘What does?'”

Roberts, an avid sportsman, has already surrendered his firearms. The felony conviction will permanently restrict his right to possess guns, affecting future hunting and outfitting.

Jackson Hole resident Lisa Robertson framed the case more broadly: “It’s not just Cody Roberts on trial here. It’s Wyoming, too.”