Wyoming Spousal Abuse Defense Attorney

How Spousal Abuse Is Charged in Wyoming

Wyoming doesn’t have a separate law against “spousal abuse.” Instead, it has laws against domestic battery and domestic assault. Stat. § 6-2-501 applies when the person who is said to have been hurt is a member of the household, which includes a spouse. The main difference between domestic violence charges and general assault charges is that domestic violence cases come with extra penalties, such as mandatory arrest, no-contact orders, and the federal firearms ban that comes with even a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

The most important thing to remember is that in Wyoming, the state, not your spouse, decides whether or not to prosecute. Your spouse can’t just drop the charges once the police file a report and the prosecutor takes the case. Prosecutors often go ahead with cases even when the victim says they don’t want to press charges or asks for them to be dropped. This is not uncommon, and it doesn’t mean that the case will take care of itself.

The Federal Firearms Consequence

Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9), a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction in Wyoming, even the first time, means that you can’t own or possess guns for the rest of your life. This is not something that can be avoided in Wyoming; it is a federal law that will always be there. This consequence alone makes it necessary for hunters, ranchers, military members, and law enforcement officers to fight the charge.

Defense Strategies in Wyoming Spousal Abuse Cases

In cases of spousal abuse, the most common defenses we use are: questioning the evidence’s strength, showing that the alleged victim’s story is not consistent, claiming self-defense, claiming mutual combat, and, in some cases, showing that the event never happened as described. People don’t realize how often false accusations happen in divorce and custody cases. We have successfully defended spousal abuse charges in Wyoming at trial — State v. Davis: Not Guilty. State v. Van Horn: Not Guilty.

Common Defenses Against Assault Charges in Wyoming

Self-defense is one of the most frequently used defenses in Wyoming assault cases, and Wyoming law supports it. Under Wyoming’s self-defense statute, a person is justified in using force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves from imminent unlawful physical harm. Defense of others applies the same logic to protecting a third party. Other strong defenses include lack of intent, false accusations, and mutual combat — where both parties were willing participants and the question of who is the aggressor becomes contested. We have taken assault and battery cases to Wyoming juries and won. State v. Davis — Family Violence/Battery: Not Guilty. State v. Van Horn — Battery: Not Guilty.

Why the First 48 Hours After an Assault Charge Matter

Witness memories fade. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Text messages and social media posts get deleted. Physical evidence disappears. The first 48 hours after an arrest are when the most critical evidence is still available — and having an attorney working on your case during that window can make a significant difference in how your defense is built.

Call Just Criminal Law today. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and start building your defense immediately.