Wyoming reporter makes initial court appearance for second set of 10 felonies

A Wyoming newspaper reporter accused of forging documents related to an attempted home purchase made a quick appearance Wednesday in Wheatland Circuit Court to face 10 felony charges. Those are separate from 10 other felony charges she faces for allegedly submitting forged documents and lying under oath to the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council. April Marie Morganroth, 40, also known by the byline Marie Hamilton in Wyoming, appeared in court with her attorney Denny Harts before Judge Jaqueline Brown to face the latest raft of charges.

During the 10-minute hearing Wednesday, Harts told the judge that Hamilton waived a formal reading of her rights and the charges against her. In the latest case, Hamilton is charged with five counts of possession of forged writing and five counts of forgery related to three U.S. Department of Agriculture documents and two invoices from contractors. Judge Brown asked Platte County Prosecutor Douglas Weaver for his recommendation on bond. Weaver told the court he understood that Hamilton is already free on a $5,000 cash bond in her other case, and asked for a $20,000 personal recognizance bond for the latest charges. Harts agreed and said Hamilton represents “no threat” to the community. Brown asked Hamilton if she wanted to “say something” to the court. “No, thank you,” Hamilton replied.

Court documents show the latest charges against Hamilton stem from an investigation by Converse County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Benjamin Peech. He found that she had testified under oath at the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council hearing on a wind farm, stating that she owned property on JJ Road and had bought it with a USDA loan. The property, however, is registered under Platte County’s mapping system to another couple with a different surname. Peech’s investigation found that the other couple were willing to sell the property, and Hamilton told them that she and her husband wanted to buy it and were prequalified for a USDA loan through Neighbor’s Bank.

Hamilton and her husband made a deal with the homeowners in July 2025 to lease the property and use “sweat equity” to bring it up to the standards required for the loan. Documents provided to the couple included initial letters with USDA letterhead showing pre-approval for a $365,000 loan dated June 10, 2025. A letter also showed USDA grant approvals for $35,000 dated Nov. 6, 2025. When Hamilton started to become late on rent payments earlier this year, the couple became concerned. Hamilton provided another letter dated Jan. 28, 2026, stating the work was nearly “80%” complete. Other paperwork allegedly submitted included invoices from “Cowgirl Demolition and Excavation LLC” showing she had paid $3,075 for repairs and “Pete’s Builders Roofing and Restoration” showing an invoice of $7,890 that was “paid in full.”

Peech wrote in his affidavit that after contacting the USDA and the two contractors, he determined that none of the letters or invoices originated with the USDA or either contractor. “The USDA did not have a program titled USDA — Rural Development — Rural Communities Home Buyer Program,” as listed on the letters, Peech wrote. The Nov. 6, 2025, date on a letter purportedly showing Hamilton had been approved for a grant program was the same date that all U.S. government offices, including the USDA, were on furlough. Spokespersons for Pete’s Roofing and Cowgirl Demolition told Peech that the invoices were never issued by their companies and they did no work at the JJ Road address.

Each of the five possession of forged writing charges carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The five forgery charges carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Brown said a preliminary hearing on the charges will be set within 20 days. The judge instructed Hamilton to stay in touch with her attorney and “do not bother or harass any witness in this matter.” “You know who the witnesses are based on the information in the affidavit,” Brown told Hamilton.