Cody Roberts sentenced to probation after deadly wolf bar incident sparks outrage

Cody Roberts, 44, was sentenced to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty in a widely condemned 2024 incident that sparked international outrage.

Roberts struck the wolf with a snowmobile in February 2024 before taping its mouth shut and carrying the injured animal into a rural Wyoming bar, video footage later showed.

The wolf, alive but barely moving, was reportedly killed by Roberts after the incident.

Sublette County District Judge Richard Lavery sentenced Roberts to probation, fined him $1,000, and prohibited him from drinking alcohol, entering bars or liquor stores, and from hunting or fishing during his probation.

Under state law, Roberts faced up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine but avoided incarceration by accepting a plea deal.

At a change-of-plea hearing in March 2026, Roberts expressed regret, apologizing to his family and the local community for his actions.

The case drew international attention after photos and videos of the wolf inside the bar went viral, reigniting scrutiny over Wyoming’s predator laws.

Wolves are generally protected in Yellowstone National Park but can be killed without a license in most other parts of the state.

Roberts had initially been cited for illegal possession of a live wolf and paid a $250 fine before a grand jury indicted him on felony animal cruelty.

The shocking nature of the act prompted widespread condemnation from animal rights advocates worldwide.