UPDATE: Cody Roberts Signs Plea Deal In Felony Animal Cruelty Case, May Avoid Prison Time – World Animal News
Update: 2/2/26
Cody Roberts, a Wyoming man at the center of a widely condemned case involving the torture and killing of a female wolf has reached a plea agreement that could allow him to avoid prison time.
According to court filings in Sublette County District Court, Roberts is expected to withdraw his earlier not guilty plea and enter a plea of guilty or no contest to a felony animal cruelty charge. The agreement must still be approved by a judge.
Under the terms of the deal, Roberts faces a potential prison sentence of 18 to 24 months, but that term would be suspended if he successfully completes 18 months of supervised probation and pays a $1,000 fine.
As part of his probation, Roberts would be subject to a number of conditions, including:
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A ban on hunting and fishing
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Prohibition on consuming alcohol or entering bars or liquor establishments
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Mandatory compliance with recommended addiction treatment
Additional standard probation requirements may also be imposed at the court’s discretion.
If Roberts violates his probation, the suspended prison sentence could be activated, meaning he could serve up to two years behind bars and face additional fines of up to $4,000.
The plea agreement gives the judge a choice: if the judge refuses to accept it, Roberts would be permitted to withdraw his plea and could either go to trial or seek a different deal.
The case attracted international attention after video footage surfaced showing the torture and subsequent killing of a female wolf in Wyoming. Wildlife advocates and animal welfare organizations condemned the act, urging authorities to impose harsh penalties.
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Update: 2/12/26
The felony animal cruelty case against Cody Roberts heads to trial after no plea agreement was reached by the judge’s court-imposed deadline.
According to Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, yesterday was the judge’s deadline for a plea deal. The judge signaled they wouldn’t move forward with jury selection or other trial proceedings if a deal was still on the table.
With no agreement reached, Roberts will now face trial as scheduled.
Jury proceedings are set to begin on March 9th at 9:00 a.m. at the Sublette County District Court in Pinedale, Wyoming.
The case stems from the torture and brutal killing of a female gray wolf, an incident that sparked national outrage and intensified calls for stronger protections for wildlife.
WAN will continue to provide updates as the trial unfolds.
__________________________________Update: 2/3/26
Judge Richard L. Lavery has DENIED the defense’s motion to dismiss the felony animal cruelty charge against Cody J. Roberts, meaning the charge will stand and the prosecution will move forward, according to Wyoming Wildlife Advocates.
Roberts’ attorney had argued the felony charge should be thrown out, but Judge Lavery rejected that claim, finding there is sufficient evidence for the prosecution to pursue the case.
With the motion denied, the clock is now ticking: there are eight days remaining for a plea deal. If no agreement is reached, the case is scheduled to proceed to trial on March 9, 2026, in Sublette County District Court.
The court is still awaiting a ruling on whether Kenneth Mills, lead wolf biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, will be allowed to testify as an expert witness, a decision that could be crucial in presenting scientific evidence at trial.
This felony case stems from Roberts’ alleged torture and killing of a female wolf in February 2024, an act that sparked nationwide outrage after photos and video of the injured animal circulated online.
WAN will continue to closely track this case and provide updates as the legal process unfolds.
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Update: 1/29/26
A Wyoming judge has reserved the judgement to dismiss the felony animal cruelty charge against Cody Roberts for allegedly torturing and killing a female wolf in Wyoming, keeping the case on track for a jury trial.
On January 28, 2026, Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery heard arguments on the defense’s motion to dismiss Robert’s case. The defense argued that Wyoming law allows predators to be killed “in any manner,” claiming the statute exempted Roberts’ actions from animal cruelty laws.
Judge Lavery took the matter under advisement and did not issue an immediate ruling. No motions were granted, and the felony animal cruelty charge remains pending.
During the hearing, Judge Lavery expressed skepticism toward the defense’s interpretation, stating that fully exempting predators from cruelty laws “seems a bridge too far.”
The court also addressed disputes over expert testimony. Prosecutors plan to call wolf biologist Kenneth Mills to testify about normal wolf behavior, which they say is relevant to whether the animal suffered while restrained inside a bar. The defense is seeking to exclude the testimony, arguing it is opinion-based and outside Mills’ specific expertise.
Roberts’ legal team continues to rely on Wyoming State Statute 6-3-1008, which permits predators to be killed “in any manner.” Prosecutors argue the case is not about hunting, but about the treatment of a live animal while under human control.
Potential jury selection could begin on February 12, 2026, with a five-day trial possibly starting on March 9. Around 100 potential jurors are expected to be summoned.
World Animal News will continue to provide updates as the case proceeds.
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Update: On January 28, a Wyoming judge will decide whether the felony animal-cruelty case against Cody Roberts moves forward—or gets thrown out before ever reaching trial.
While we wait for the decision to be handed down (and don’t support interference with the legal process), we encourage you to make your voice heard with Congress by taking action today at TeamWolf.org. If the House’s anti-wolf bill passes the Senate, it will be immune from judicial review. Help put a stop to policy dictated by politics over science.
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Justice is finally being served! Eighteen months after Cody Roberts brutally killed a female gray wolf, sparking global outrage, Roberts has finally been indicted by a Wyoming grand jury for felony animal cruelty. In February 2024, Roberts chased down a young gray wolf with a snowmobile, taped her mouth shut, and tortured her before parading her through a bar and eventually killing her.