HOPE! Judge Refuses to Dismiss Wolf Torture Case

This week, Wyoming District Court Judge Richard Lavery formally denied a motion by now-infamous wolf torturer Cody Roberts to have his case dismissed. Roberts is facing felony animal cruelty charges for dragging Hope, a yearling wolf, to the Green River Bar in Daniel, Wyoming, where he tormented the helpless and severely injured animal before ultimately shooting and killing him.

Cody Roberts and his lawyer sought to have the case dismissed by arguing that everything Roberts did while Hope was in his control was an extended form of “capture,” pointing to Wyoming state law that treats anything done to animals classified as predatory species during “hunting, capture, killing, or destruction” as legal if not otherwise explicitly prohibited. While this law is shockingly broad and does allow for a significant amount of unchecked cruelty during those situations, Judge Lavery rightfully rejected the claim that what happened to Hope after he was taken and before he was killed constituted “capture.” As the court stated in its ruling, “this case does not arise out of the capture of the wolf, but out of Defendant’s alleged conduct after capturing the wolf but before it was killed.”

In his ruling, Judge Lavery also shut down an attempt by the defense to rely on a 2025 amendment to Wyoming law that could have reduced the charge to a misdemeanor. The judge addressed this claim directly, stating that nothing in the law “indicates the legislature intended this statute to apply retroactively to reduce the offense with which Defendant is charged from a felony to a misdemeanor.” As a result, the felony charge stands.

With the motion to dismiss denied, this case is now moving closer to trial. Jury selection could begin as early as February 12, with Judge Lavery indicating that he intends to summon 100 potential jurors. The trial itself is currently scheduled to begin on March 9. With time running out for a possible plea deal, the likelihood that Cody Roberts will finally face justice before a jury of his peers grows stronger by the day.

Species Unite is deeply grateful to everyone who has played a part in ensuring that justice is served in this case. Together, this community sent over 17,000 letters to law enforcement in Sublette County, Wyoming, demanding that this dangerous man face the consequences of his cruel act. Today, we are one step closer to seeing him behind bars where he belongs.