'I regret my actions:' Roberts pleads guilty to animal cruelty for wolf handling in western Wyoming bar

JACKSON – Cody Roberts, the Sublette County man accused of torturing a wolf in the Green River Bar, pleaded guilty Thursday to felony animal cruelty.

He also apologized for his actions.

“I regret my actions and apologize to my community and family,” Roberts said at his Thursday morning change of plea hearing. “I hope that after this hearing everyone can heal and move forward.”

There were 10 spectators present in the courtroom, including five Roberts supporters and two wildlife advocates. There were also several members of the Wyoming media.

Roberts has not yet been sentenced. Judge Richard Lavery, the Sweetwater County District Court judge assigned to the case, will determine Roberts’ punishment following a presentence evaluation.

Should Lavery accept the plea agreement reached by Sublette County Prosecutor Clayton Melinkovich and Rob Piper, Roberts’ attorney, Roberts will spend 18 months on probation and pay a $1,000 fine. Roberts will also pay another $300 victim compensation surcharge.

Roberts will not be permitted to hunt, fish, drink alcohol or enter bars during his time on probation. As a convicted felon, he will never be able to possess a firearm again.

Roberts preemptively removed firearms from his home in anticipation of his guilty plea, Piper said.

Judge Lavery has the ability to accept or reject the agreement based on Roberts’ impending evaluation. If Lavery rejects the deal, Roberts would be permitted to withdraw his guilty plea.

If Lavery accepts the deal, Roberts could still face prison time if he violates the terms of his plea agreement.

Under the plea agreement, Roberts had the option to plead guilty or no contest, which would have meant accepting punishment without admitting guilt. He chose the former, after previously pleading not guilty.

Roberts’ trial was set to begin March 9. If a jury had convicted him, he could have faced up to two years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.

At the Thursday hearing, Melinkovich described the events of Feb. 29, 2024, the day Roberts captured a wolf and brought it into the Green River Bar in Daniel on a leash.

The incident ignited global outrage when photos and videos of Roberts with the wolf circulated on social media.

At the time, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department said Roberts’ actions were exempt from state animal cruelty law because wolves are legally classified as predators in Sublette County. The department nonetheless cited Roberts for illegally possessing wildlife and fined him $250.

In response to the incident and outrage, the Wyoming Legislature passed a law that explicitly protects predators from animal cruelty. The state defines “predators” as coyotes, jackrabbits, porcupines, raccoons, red foxes, skunks or stray cats. Wolves are considered predators in most of the state, but not in the northwest corner around Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

Melinkovich, however, argued that even the language of Wyoming’s animal cruelty statute predating the recent rule change applied to Roberts’ case. The grand jury he convened in August 2025 agreed.

According to Melinkovich’s account of the incident, which is based on evidence from photos, videos and witnesses, Roberts captured the male wolf on private land at some point during the day. He was in possession of the wolf that day and into the night.

Roberts brought the wolf to the Green River Bar in the backseat of his truck, Melinkovich said. When Roberts entered the bar, he asked if anyone had lost a dog. He then brought the wolf into the bar on a leash.

The wolf was limping and lay down, Melinkovich said.

While at the bar, it stayed lying down and hardly moved. Roberts posed for pictures and videos with the animal. When Roberts went to kiss the wolf, it growled and bared its teeth at him, Melinkovich said.

Someone eventually asked Roberts to remove the wolf from the bar. He picked it up and carried it out “like a baby” — which Melinkovich said was a quote from a witness — and subsequently shot it.

Wolves seek to avoid humans and typically strive to get away from them, Melinkovich said. The wolf was “not seeking to get away because it was not able to do so,” Melinkovich said.

Melinkovich argued that Roberts’ series of actions falls under the state’s definition of “torture or torment.”

That definition is “every act, omission or neglect whereby the willful and malicious infliction of pain or suffering is caused, permitted or allowed to continue when there is a reasonable remedy or relief.”

After Melinkovich’s telling of events, Lavery asked Roberts if the account was accurate. It was “pretty close,” Roberts said.

Lavery asked Roberts if he disputed any of the story.

He took a beat.

“No, Your Honor,” he said.

Lavery then teased at what may come during Roberts’ sentencing hearing.

The judge said he appreciated the sentiments Roberts expressed. Lavery wants to speak more about them at the next hearing.

He was also interested in talking more about the late-stage change of plea and said he took it to be about the “risk” of going to trial for both parties.

More people than Lavery “ever would have imagined” have reached out to him and his judicial assistant about the plea agreement. His assistant has received countless phone calls and 5,000 emails, none of which Lavery is permitted to read. Communicating with a judge outside of court is called “ex parte” communication and is prohibited by the Wyoming Code of Judicial Conduct.

“I can’t stop anyone, but it falls on deaf ears,” Lavery said.

Lisa Robertson, founder of the Jackson-based wildlife advocacy organization Wyoming Untrapped, attended the hearing and hopes that Lavery accepts Roberts’ plea agreement.

“He’s guilty, he’s apologizing for the first time, he was humbled,” she said.

Roberts permanently losing his gun rights is a big deal, she said.

“That is huge in Wyoming,” she said. “A lot of people that don’t live here don’t understand how important it is to be able to hunt and fish and use a firearm and go to a bar.”

Jack Roberts, Cody’s father, was skeptical as to whether his son’s legal saga was nearing its end. He missed the hearing because he was turned away after arriving late.

“It’s been a hard two years,” he said, referring to the calls and messages that Cody and his family have received since the incident.

“He has already been convicted on social media,” Jack Roberts said.

This story was published on March 6, 2026.