How Wyoming Defines Sexual Assault
There are four levels of sexual assault in Wyoming. The most serious is first degree, which can lead to life in prison. The least serious is fourth degree, which is a misdemeanor. Under Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-302, first-degree sexual assault happens when someone forces someone else to have sex with them or uses physical force to make them submit, the victim can’t give consent, or other qualifying circumstances are present. Second-degree sexual assault includes penetration or contact without consent in a number of specific situations and can result in up to twenty years in prison.
Most sexual assault cases are about consent. There are certain ways that Wyoming law defines consent, and the main issue in these cases is almost always whether consent was given and whether it was legally valid. The defense focuses on the credibility of the accuser, whether there is physical evidence to back up their claims, and any communications between the two parties.
Sex Offender Registration in Wyoming
If you are convicted of sexual assault in Wyoming, you must register under the Wyoming Sex Offender Registration Act. Depending on the crime, registration periods can last anywhere from 25 years to the rest of your life. During the registration period, you can’t live or work in certain places, and you have to follow certain rules when you talk to the police. This consequence, which is separate from any prison time, is often the worst long-term effect of a conviction.
How We Defend Sexual Assault Charges in Wyoming
A thorough, independent investigation is the basis of a sexual assault defense. We look at the physical evidence, the digital messages between the people involved, the timeline of the alleged event and the report, any inconsistencies in the accuser’s story, and any other possible explanations for the evidence. People make false accusations all the time, whether it’s in a fight with a partner, during a divorce or custody battle, or because they don’t understand something. We have successfully defended clients who have been accused of sexual assault, and when the facts support it, we take these cases to trial.
Penalty Grid
| First Degree | Second Degree | Registration | Record |
| Up to life in prison | Up to 20 years | 25 years to lifetime | No expungement for most |
Related Charges We Also Defend
Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law
Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.
We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.
We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.
Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.
Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients
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OtherSuppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme CourtDistrict Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.
Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court
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CASE DISMISSEDReckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming
Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.
State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDDUI / DWUI — Wyoming
Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.
State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court
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CASE DISMISSEDFelony Child Abuse — Wyoming
Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.
State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court
Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.
The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.
What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law
Frequently asked questions about sexual assault charges in Wyoming
Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve
We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.
- Deadwood
- Sturgis (Rally)
- Custer County
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Pennington County
We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.
