Wyoming Strangulation Defense Attorney

Wyoming’s Strangulation Law: What Most People Don’t Know

Most people charged with strangulation in Wyoming are caught off guard by one fact: you can be charged with a felony even if the alleged victim has no visible marks, no injury, and no medical treatment. Wyoming’s strangulation statute is one of the most aggressively prosecuted in the state, and it moves fast. If you’ve been charged, or if you believe charges may be coming, you need legal representation today.

Wyoming’s Strangulation Statute — What the Law Actually Says

Wyoming passed its dedicated strangulation statute — Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-509 — in 2018 in response to research showing that strangulation in domestic violence incidents is a significant predictor of lethal violence. Under this statute, intentionally impeding the normal breathing or blood circulation of another person by applying external pressure to the throat, neck, or chest constitutes strangulation — regardless of whether injury results. The statute treats strangulation as a separate felony offense, distinct from assault or battery.

Penalties for Strangulation in Wyoming

A strangulation conviction under Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-509 carries up to 5 years in state prison. When charged alongside domestic violence or with a prior conviction, penalties can increase further. As a felony, a strangulation conviction also results in loss of the right to own firearms, potential immigration consequences, and a permanent felony record that affects employment and housing.

The Evidence Problem in Strangulation Cases

One of the unique challenges — and defense opportunities — in strangulation cases is the nature of the physical evidence. Visible bruising, petechiae (small broken blood vessels in the eyes), and throat injury can take hours to appear after an incident. Medical photographs taken too early may show nothing. Photographs taken later may show significant injury. This timing dynamic creates real questions about causation, the reliability of medical evidence, and whether injuries observed are consistent with the alleged event. We work with medical experts to challenge prosecution evidence on these points.

Defense Strategies for Strangulation Charges

Strong defenses in Wyoming strangulation cases include: challenging inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s account, demonstrating that physical evidence is inconsistent with the alleged mechanism of injury, self-defense, and in some cases, challenging the credibility of the medical evidence itself. Because strangulation charges almost always arise in domestic violence contexts, the defense strategies from that area of law also apply.

Physical and forensic evidence in these cases changes quickly. Call Just Criminal Law immediately — the sooner we begin building your defense, the stronger it will be.