Wyoming Criminal Laws: Felony and Misdemeanor Classes, Theft, Self-Defense and Bail

Wyoming does not grade felonies into classes or degrees. Crimes which may be punished by death or by imprisonment for more than one (1) year are felonies; all other crimes are misdemeanors. The maximum prison term is set in the statute for each offense. If the statute does not establish a maximum fine, the fine for a felony shall be not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00). Unless the offense carries a life term, the court sets a minimum and maximum term within the statutory limits, and the minimum may not be greater than 90% of the maximum imposed. As of April 2026, the Legislature's Joint Judiciary Committee was studying whether to adopt a classification and gradation system for offenses.

No general misdemeanor classes. Unless a different penalty is prescribed by law, every crime declared to be a misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both. Each conviction also carries a court automation fee of forty dollars ($40.00) and an indigent civil legal services fee of ten dollars ($10.00). Some offenses (mostly game and fish offenses in Title 23) are labeled 'low' or 'high' misdemeanors, which differ by the penalty specified.

$1,000. Theft is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more or if the property is a firearm, horse, mule, sheep, cattle, buffalo or swine regardless of value. Theft of property worth less than $1,000 is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00), or both. A third or subsequent theft offense is a felony (up to 10 years and/or $10,000). Amounts from a common scheme or the same transaction may be aggregated.

Stand your ground. A person who is attacked in any place where the person is lawfully present shall not have a duty to retreat before using reasonable defensive force, provided that he is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in illegal activity. Defensive force is reasonable when it is the force a reasonable person in like circumstances would judge necessary to prevent an injury or loss, and no more, including deadly force if necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to the person or another; 'necessary to prevent' includes an honest belief that the danger exists, whether real or apparent. A person who uses reasonable defensive force shall not be criminally prosecuted for that use of force.

A person is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily injury when using defensive force, including deadly force, if the intruder was unlawfully and forcefully entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, another's home or habitation (or was removing or attempting to remove another against his will from it), and the person using force knew or had reason to believe an unlawful and forcible entry or act was occurring. The presumption does not apply if the person against whom force is used has a right to be in or is a lawful resident of the home (such as an owner, lessee or titleholder) and there is no domestic-violence protection injunction or written pretrial no-contact order against that person; if the person being removed is a child or grandchild or in the lawful custody or guardianship of the person against whom force is used; or if that person is a peace officer or Department of Corrections employee entering in the performance of official duties. A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter another's home or habitation is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence. 'Habitation' includes any structure designed or adapted for overnight accommodation, including buildings, modular units, trailers, campers and tents. Civil immunity: a person who uses reasonable defensive force under W.S. 6-2-602 is immune from civil action for that force; the person may obtain a pretrial hearing and the court shall award reasonable attorney fees, court costs, lost income and other expenses if it finds the person immune.

A person arrested for an offense not punishable by death may be admitted to bail. For an offense punishable by death, bail is at the discretion of the authorized judicial officer, except that the defendant shall not be admitted to bail if the proof is evident or the presumption great. Wyoming Supreme Court rules govern the terms, amount and conditions of bail. Under Rule 46.1, all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital cases when the proof is evident or the presumption great, and excessive bail shall not be required; a judicial officer orders the person released or detained pending proceedings. Within four hours after a person is confined to jail, the custodial officer shall advise the person of the right to file a written request with the court for pretrial release and provide writing materials; no particular form of request is required and it may be handwritten.

The public defender represents any needy person under arrest for or formally charged with a serious crime (any felony, or a misdemeanor for which incarceration is a practical possibility, plus misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence) if the defendant requests counsel or the court orders appointment. At the initial appearance the court advises a needy defendant of the right to an attorney at public expense and of the possibility of being ordered to reimburse the state. Need is determined by the court on a separate written application for each proceeding. A person whose annual gross income is less than 125% of the current federal poverty level for the immediate family unit is needy; between 125% and 218% may be deemed needy; above 218% shall not be deemed needy (though a felony defendant may be found needy in extraordinary circumstances). A person is presumed needy if receiving TANF, EAEDC, poverty-related veterans benefits, SNAP, Medicaid or SSI, or if in a public mental health facility, state prison or county jail with no available funds or liquid assets. Release on bail does not necessarily prevent a finding of need. The court must determine whether the person can reimburse any of the costs and may order reimbursement under the state public defender's standard fee schedule.

No single 'age of consent' section; under the sexual abuse of a minor statutes it is effectively 16. Being seventeen (17) years of age or older, inflicting sexual intrusion on a victim who is thirteen (13) through fifteen (15) years of age when the victim is at least four (4) years younger than the actor is sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree (up to 20 years). For victims sixteen (16) or seventeen (17), sexual intrusion is a crime when the actor is twenty (20) or older, at least four years older and occupies a position of authority (third degree, up to 15 years), or is 18 or older and the victim's legal guardian or a listed relative (first degree). Any sexual intrusion on a victim less than thirteen (13) by an actor sixteen (16) or older is first degree (up to 50 years).

A crime; adult-use marijuana is not legal. Possessing a controlled substance in plant form of no more than three (3) ounces is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than twelve (12) months, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both; a third or subsequent offense is punishable by not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both. Possessing more than that amount of a Schedule I, II or III substance (other than methamphetamine or a narcotic) is a felony punishable by not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both. No practitioner may dispense or prescribe marihuana or tetrahydrocannabinol, except drugs with final FDA approval such as dronabinol.

Simple assault is unlawfully attempting, with the present ability, to cause bodily injury to another; it is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $750 (no jail term is listed). Aggravated assault and battery is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years in prison; it covers causing or attempting to cause serious bodily injury with extreme indifference to human life, attempting to cause or causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon, threatening someone with a drawn deadly weapon (unless reasonably necessary for self-defense or defense of property), and causing bodily injury to a woman the person knows is pregnant. Intentionally causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to a peace officer on duty is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years.

Wyoming has a separate battery offense: intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person by use of physical force. Battery is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of not more than $750, or both, and probation may last up to one year. A lesser offense, unlawful contact, covers touching someone in a rude, insolent or angry manner without enough force to cause injury, or recklessly causing bodily injury; it carries the same maximum (six months, $750, or both). Battery causing injury with a deadly weapon is charged as aggravated assault and battery, a felony with up to ten (10) years.

Wyoming has separate offenses for household members. Domestic battery (knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to a household member by physical force) is punishable by up to six (6) months in jail and a $750 fine for a first offense; up to one (1) year and $1,000 if within the previous five years the person was convicted of domestic battery or a listed violent offense against a household member; and is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years and a $10,000 fine if within the previous ten years the person has two or more domestic battery convictions, or one domestic battery plus another listed offense against a household member. Domestic assault (attempting to cause bodily injury to a household member) carries up to six months and $750, or up to one year and $750 with a prior. Strangulation of a household member (impeding breathing or blood circulation by pressure on the throat or neck or blocking the nose and mouth) is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years.

Wyoming has no separate shoplifting crime; it is charged as theft. Theft of property worth less than $1,000 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year in jail, a fine of not more than $1,500, or both. A third or subsequent theft offense (including shoplifting, larceny or a municipal theft offense, separately brought and tried) is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years in prison, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, regardless of value. Under the civil shoplifting statute, a person over ten years old who steals from a store owes the merchant the return of the property or its full marked price, plus a civil penalty of twice the marked price but not less than $50 nor more than $1,000, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; parents or guardians are liable for an unemancipated minor.

Burglary is entering or remaining without authority in a building, occupied structure or vehicle with intent to commit theft or a felony inside; it is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both. Aggravated burglary, punishable by five (5) to twenty-five (25) years and a fine up to $50,000, applies when the burglar is armed with or uses a deadly weapon or simulated deadly weapon, or inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury. Robbery is inflicting bodily injury, or threatening or putting someone in fear of immediate bodily injury, while committing theft; it is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years. Aggravated robbery, punishable by five (5) to twenty-five (25) years, applies when the robber intentionally inflicts or attempts to inflict serious bodily injury, or uses or exhibits a deadly or simulated deadly weapon.

Vandalism is called property destruction and defacement in Wyoming: knowingly defacing, injuring or destroying someone else's property without consent. If the cost of repair (or value of destroyed property) is less than $1,000, it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of not more than $750, or both. If it is $1,000 or more, it is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years in prison, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. Damaging property while unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling is a felony regardless of the amount. A series of damage from one continuing course of conduct may be charged as one offense using the total. Graffiti is covered by this same statute (defacing property); there is no separate graffiti offense in Title 6.

Criminal trespass is entering or remaining on another person's land or premises knowing you are not authorized, or after being told to leave or not to trespass, either personally by the owner, occupant, agent or a peace officer, or by posted signs likely to be seen. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of not more than $750, or both. Knowingly entering a building, occupied structure, vehicle or truck cargo area without authority is criminal entry, also a misdemeanor with up to six months and $750. Entering or remaining in an occupied structure and committing or attempting a battery is unlawful entry into an occupied structure, a felony.

Wyoming grades drug possession by amount and schedule. Possessing a small amount (for example no more than 3 grams of a powder, crystal, pill or capsule, or 0.5 gram of crack cocaine) of any controlled substance is a misdemeanor punishable by up to twelve (12) months in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both; a third or subsequent conviction is punishable by up to five (5) years and $5,000. Possessing more than those amounts of methamphetamine or a Schedule I or II narcotic is a felony punishable by up to seven (7) years and a $15,000 fine; other Schedule I, II or III substances, up to five (5) years and $10,000. Delivering or possessing with intent to deliver drug paraphernalia is punishable by up to six (6) months and $750; the statute reviewed does not make simple possession of paraphernalia a crime. A first offender found guilty of possession may, with consent, have proceedings deferred and be placed on probation; on completion the case is dismissed without a conviction (only once per person).

A driver in a crash that injures or kills someone must stop, stay at the scene, give name, address and vehicle registration number, show a driver's license on request, and give reasonable help to the injured, including arranging transport to medical care. Failing to do so is punishable by up to one (1) year in jail, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both. Failing to stop for a crash that damages only an attended vehicle or property is a misdemeanor; hitting an unattended vehicle or property requires stopping and notifying the owner or leaving a written note.

Reckless driving is driving any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. It is a misdemeanor; the reckless driving section itself sets no penalty, so the general traffic penalty applies: a fine of not more than $200 for a first conviction, up to $300 for a second conviction within one year, and up to $500 and/or six (6) months in jail for a third within one year. Reckless driving is listed as a "serious traffic violation" for commercial driver's license purposes.

Stalking is a course of conduct intended to harass a specific person (communications by any means, following, surveillance outside the person's home, school, work or vehicle, or electronic or GPS surveillance, including of their internet or wireless activity) that a reasonable person would find substantially distressing or frightening. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year in jail, a fine of not more than $750, or both. It becomes felony stalking, punishable by up to ten (10) years, if it occurs within five years after completing a sentence for a prior stalking conviction, causes serious bodily harm, violates probation, parole or bail conditions, violates a protection order, or is committed by an adult against a minor. Telephone or electronic harassment (anonymous obscene calls, repeated anonymous calls, or electronically or in writing threatening death or injury) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year and $1,000.

Knowingly obstructing, impeding or interfering with a peace officer, or resisting arrest, while the officer is lawfully performing duties is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year in jail, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. Causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to the officer is a felony with up to ten (10) years, and disarming an officer of a firearm is a felony with up to five (5) years. Fleeing or attempting to elude a marked police vehicle after a signal to stop is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months and $750; it becomes aggravated fleeing, a felony punishable by up to five (5) years and $5,000, with a prior fleeing conviction, or if the driver attempts to cause or causes bodily injury or causes more than $10,000 in property damage.

Wyoming handles missing court mainly through its court rules rather than a separate failure-to-appear crime in the criminal code. Under Rule 46.4 of the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure, a person released on bail or other conditions who knowingly fails to appear as required, or fails to surrender to serve a sentence, may be punished for contempt; it is a defense that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the appearance and the person appeared as soon as they ended. If the person signed an appearance bond, the judge may declare the posted property forfeited. For a violation of release conditions, a warrant may issue for the person's arrest, and release may be revoked after a hearing. Separately, refusing or intentionally failing to obey a served subpoena is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months, a fine of up to $750.00, or both.

Probation revocation in Wyoming starts with a petition filed by the prosecutor listing the conditions allegedly violated. If the petition shows probable cause, the court orders the probationer to appear (or, for good cause, issues a warrant), advises the person of the allegations and rights, and holds a hearing before a judge without a jury, within 15 days if the person is in custody on the revocation or 30 days if not. At the hearing the state must prove the violation by a preponderance of the evidence, and the probationer may have counsel, confront witnesses and present evidence. If the court finds a violation, it may deal with the case as if probation had never been granted (that is, impose or carry out the sentence); the court may also reduce, continue or extend the probation period within the statutory limits, and conditions can be modified on petition.

Knowingly obstructing, impeding or interfering with, or resisting arrest by, a peace officer performing lawful duties is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both. Intentionally causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to an officer is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years, and disarming an officer of a firearm is a felony punishable by up to five (5) years. Witness or juror tampering, meaning using force or threats to influence, intimidate, impede or retaliate against a juror, judge, witness or other judicial officer, is a felony punishable by up to five (5) years, a fine of up to $5,000.00, or both; obstructing the administration of justice in a court by threats or force is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year, a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both.

Perjury is knowingly testifying falsely, or making a false affidavit, declaration, deposition or statement, while under a lawfully administered oath or affirmation in a judicial, legislative or administrative proceeding, about a matter material to the issue. It is a felony punishable by up to five (5) years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000.00, or both. False swearing, knowingly making a false sworn certificate, affidavit, acknowledgment or statement outside a judicial or administrative proceeding where an oath is authorized by law, is a felony punishable by up to two (2) years, a fine of up to $2,000.00, or both; the same penalty applies to knowingly submitting a false claim or voucher with intent to defraud.

Wyoming's state criminal code (Title 6) contains no offense of public intoxication. The alcohol-code section whose heading still mentions 'public drunkenness' (W.S. 12-6-101) now deals with furnishing alcohol to, and possession or consumption by, people under 21; its subsection (b) was repealed by Laws 2010, ch. 6, § 2. Drunken behavior that disturbs others can still be charged as breach of the peace (W.S. 6-6-102).

Wyoming calls disorderly conduct breach of the peace: disturbing the peace of a community or its inhabitants by unreasonably loud noise or music, or by using threatening, abusive or obscene language or violent actions, knowing or having probable cause to believe it will disturb the peace. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of up to $750.00, or both. Threatening or harassing phone calls or electronic messages are a separate misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year, a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both.

Wyoming calls indecent exposure public indecency: while in a public place where one may reasonably be expected to be seen, exposing one's intimate parts with intent to arouse sexual desire, or performing an act of sexual intrusion or sexual contact in public with that intent. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of up to $750.00, or both. Breastfeeding an infant is expressly excluded. The section has no felony level.

Prostitution is illegal in Wyoming. Knowingly or intentionally performing, or offering or agreeing to perform, a sexual act or sexual contact for money or other property is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of up to $750.00, or both. The buyer commits soliciting an act of prostitution, by paying or offering or agreeing to pay for a sexual act, with the same penalty. Promoting prostitution, including enticing or compelling someone to become a prostitute, procuring a person for prostitution, allowing a place to be used for prostitution, or living off a prostitute's earnings, is a felony punishable by up to three (3) years, a fine of up to $3,000.00, or both, rising to up to five (5) years and $5,000.00 when the person enticed or compelled is under 18. Each section excepts conduct covered by the human trafficking statutes (W.S. 6-2-701 through 6-2-710).

Legal gambling in Wyoming includes the state lottery run by the Wyoming Lottery Corporation, online sports wagering regulated by the Wyoming Gaming Commission (age 18 and older), pari-mutuel wagering regulated by the Gaming Commission, bingo and pull tabs run by licensed charitable or nonprofit organizations, licensed Calcutta wagering by qualifying organizations, and private social games among people with a bona fide social relationship where no one profits except from winnings; acts expressly authorized by law are excluded from the gambling ban. Otherwise, gambling (risking property for gain on chance or on an event outside one's control, including sporting events) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six (6) months, a fine of up to $750.00, or both, and professional gambling is a felony punishable by up to three (3) years, a fine of up to $3,000.00, or both.

Wyoming has no separately named embezzlement crime in its criminal code; taking or keeping an employer's or client's money is charged under the single theft statute, which covers knowingly taking, retaining or exercising control over another's property without authorization or by deception with intent to deprive the owner. Theft is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years, a fine of up to $10,000.00, or both, if the property is worth $1,000.00 or more; under $1,000.00 it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year, a fine of up to $1,500.00, or both. Amounts taken in a common scheme may be added together, and a third or later theft conviction is a felony.

Identity theft, called unauthorized use of personal identifying information (theft of identity), is willfully obtaining another person's identifying information (such as name with Social Security number, driver's license number, account or card numbers with access codes, online login credentials, or medical or biometric data) and using it for any unlawful purpose, such as getting credit, goods, services or medical information in that person's name without consent. It is a misdemeanor (up to six (6) months, up to $750.00, or both) if no economic benefit, or less than $1,000.00, was gained or attempted, and a felony (up to ten (10) years, up to $10,000.00, or both) if $1,000.00 or more. Credit card fraud, called unlawful use of a credit, charge or debit card, follows the same split: a misdemeanor under $1,000.00 and a felony (up to ten (10) years, up to $10,000.00, or both) when the value obtained within any 60-day period totals $1,000.00 or more.

Forgery is, with intent to defraud, altering another's writing without authority, making or issuing a writing that falsely appears to be someone else's act or to have been made at a different time or place, or uttering (passing) a writing known to be forged. It is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years, a fine of up to $10,000.00, or both (a misdemeanor only for certain permits and mine car numbers). Possessing a forged writing intending to pass it, or possessing forgery equipment, is a felony punishable by up to five (5) years, a fine of up to $5,000.00, or both. Bad checks: knowingly issuing a check that is not paid for insufficient funds (fraud by check) is a misdemeanor (up to six (6) months, up to $750.00, or both) if under $1,000.00, and a felony (up to ten (10) years, up to $10,000.00, or both) if $1,000.00 or more or if two or more checks within 60 days total $1,000.00 or more.

Blackmail in Wyoming is a single offense that covers what used to be called blackmail and extortion: with intent to obtain someone's property or force someone to act or not act against their will, threatening bodily injury or injury to property, or accusing or threatening to accuse a person of a crime or of disgraceful immoral conduct. It is a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years in prison. Aggravated blackmail, where the person causes bodily injury during the crime, is a felony punishable by not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty-five (25) years.

First-degree murder is killing purposely and with premeditated malice, or killing anyone while committing or attempting sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, arson, robbery, burglary, escape, resisting arrest, kidnapping or abuse of a child under 16 (felony murder). It is punished by death, life without parole, or life imprisonment 'according to law'; a defendant under 18 at the time can receive only life imprisonment, and the judge chooses between the two life sentences unless the state seeks death. Second-degree murder, killing purposely and maliciously but without premeditation, carries 20 years to life (at least 40 years to life if the defendant knew the victim was pregnant). Wyoming has no third-degree murder.

Manslaughter is killing without malice, either voluntarily upon a sudden heat of passion or involuntarily but recklessly: a felony with up to 20 years in prison (10 to 30 years if the defendant knew the victim was pregnant). Causing a death by criminal negligence is criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor with up to 1 year and/or a $2,000 fine. Causing a death by driving in a criminally negligent manner is homicide by vehicle, a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in county jail and/or $2,000). Aggravated homicide by vehicle, causing a death while driving drunk or impaired or while driving recklessly, is a felony with up to 20 years. Either vehicle conviction requires license revocation, and a drunk-driving aggravated homicide bars an ignition-interlock license.

A parent, guardian or custodian may not abandon a child without just cause or, knowingly or with criminal negligence, endanger the child's life or health by violating a duty of care, protection or support. No person may knowingly cause, encourage or contribute to a child's violation of any law (contributing to delinquency), bring a child into a place used for prostitution or gambling, furnish illegal drugs to a child, or hide a runaway child's location. These offenses (child means under 16) are misdemeanors with up to 1 year and/or a $1,000 fine; a second violation is a felony with up to 5 years and/or $5,000. Knowingly exposing a child to methamphetamine or fentanyl (letting the child ingest it or stay where it is made, sold, stored or used) is a felony with up to 5 years and/or $5,000. Child abuse causing physical or mental injury is a felony up to 10 years (25 years if aggravated).

First-degree arson is maliciously starting a fire or causing an explosion intending to destroy or damage an occupied structure: a felony with up to 20 years and/or a fine of up to $20,000 (or twice the insurance amount if set to collect insurance). Aggravated arson, the same act showing reckless disregard for life where someone is seriously hurt or killed (including emergency responders), carries up to 30 years. Second-degree arson, burning any property to collect insurance, is up to 10 years and/or twice the insurance amount. Third-degree arson, intentionally starting a fire that endangers someone or damages another's property worth $200 or more, is a felony up to 5 years and/or $5,000. Fourth-degree arson, damage under $200, is a misdemeanor up to 1 year and/or $750.

Cruelty to animals includes unnecessarily injuring or beating an animal, overdriving or overloading it, carrying it in a way that risks injury, and, with extreme indifference to the animal's welfare, failing to give food, water, shelter or care for obvious serious illness or injury, abandoning it, or keeping a pet so it suffers chronic serious harm; it also covers dog and cock fighting. A first offense is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750); a repeat within 5 years carries up to 6 months and/or $5,000. Felony cruelty, knowingly beating, torturing, tormenting or mutilating an animal intending death or undue suffering, or fighting or injuring others' animals resulting in death, means up to 2 years and/or $5,000 plus permanent forfeiture of the animal. The court may also order forfeiture and impose continuing limits on owning or keeping animals. Accepted livestock practices, rodeo, hunting and humane destruction are excluded.

Yes. A person 18 or older who shares an intimate image of another identifiable person (including a computer-generated image), knowing or having reason to know the person expected it to stay private and did not expressly consent, with intent to humiliate, harm, harass, threaten or coerce, or for sexual gratification, commits unlawful dissemination of an intimate image: a misdemeanor with up to 1 year and/or a $5,000 fine. Online service providers are not liable for content posted by others. No Wyoming civil-remedy statute specific to intimate images was found.

Harassing someone through a course of conduct, including electronic or anonymous communications or electronic surveillance of the person's internet activity, intending to cause substantial emotional distress or fear, is stalking: a misdemeanor with up to 1 year and/or $750, and a felony up to 10 years if, among other things, an adult stalks a minor or violates a protection order. Under the Safe School Climate Act, no person may engage in harassment, intimidation or bullying at school, including intentional electronic communications, and each school district must adopt a policy with consequences; that school law sets no criminal penalty.

Wyoming has no special sexting offense or diversion statute for minors. The child sexual exploitation law makes it a felony for anyone to create, distribute or possess a sexual image of a person under 18 (production or distribution: 5-12 years; possession: up to 10 years), and the statute has no exception for minors sharing images of themselves or peers. The intimate-image dissemination crime applies only to offenders 18 or older. Cases involving minors may be handled in juvenile court, but no sexting-specific rule was found.

Transporting or possessing property one knows or reasonably should know is criminal proceeds, directing or financing such transfers, or conducting a transaction with such property to promote crime, hide its source or ownership, or evade reporting requirements is money laundering: a felony with up to 10 years and/or a $10,000 fine. Wyoming does not grade the offense by amount. Insured banks and credit unions and their employees handling customer transactions are exempt unless an employee acts with criminal intent.

First-degree human trafficking, intentionally or knowingly recruiting, transporting, harboring or obtaining someone for forced labor or sexual servitude, carries 5 to 50 years, or 25 to 50 years plus a fine of up to $10,000 if the victim is a minor. Second-degree trafficking (done recklessly) carries 2 to 20 years and/or $10,000. Forced labor or servitude is up to 15 years and/or $10,000; sexual servitude of an adult up to 3 years and/or $3,000; and sexual servitude of a minor up to 5 years and/or $5,000, where the minor's consent or a belief that the minor was an adult is no defense. An adult with a prior trafficking conviction involving a minor who traffics a minor again faces 25 years to life without parole.

A pedestrian crossing outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield to all vehicles; between adjacent intersections with working signals, pedestrians may cross only in a marked crosswalk; and diagonal crossing of an intersection is barred unless signs allow it. Pedestrians may not start crossing on a 'Don't Walk' signal and may not suddenly step into the path of a vehicle too close to stop. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks where signals are not in place or not working. Violations are misdemeanors under the traffic code's general penalty: a fine of up to $200 for a first conviction, up to $300 for a second within a year, and up to $500 and/or 6 months for a third. No statewide decriminalization was found.

No person may drink, transport or possess an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle moving on a public street or highway unless it is unopened and sealed, or kept in the trunk or another place not readily reachable (such as the unoccupied bed of a pickup or a secured cabinet in a motor home). Passengers in a vehicle used to carry passengers for hire are exempt, but that driver may not have alcohol within reach. Penalties: a fine of up to $200 for a first conviction, up to $300 and/or 30 days for a second within 1 year, and up to $500 and/or 6 months for a third within 1 year.

A person under 21 may not buy or try to buy alcohol, ask someone else to buy it, possess it, consume alcohol, have a measurable alcohol concentration in the body, or enter a store's off-premise sales area without a parent, spouse or guardian. Exceptions include drinking in the presence of a parent, spouse or guardian 21 or older, religious services, and certain jobs. A violation is a misdemeanor under the alcohol title's general penalty (up to 6 months and/or $750). Using or falsifying identification to obtain alcohol is also a misdemeanor, and possessing or displaying a fictitious or altered driver's license, or another person's license, is a misdemeanor with up to a $750 fine. Driving under 21 with an alcohol concentration of 0.02% or more is a separate misdemeanor: up to $750 for a first conviction, with up to 1 month in jail for a second within a year and up to 6 months for a third within 2 years.

Driving while one's license is cancelled, suspended, revoked or invalid is a misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail and/or a $750 fine. A second conviction during the same suspension or revocation, or driving while suspended or revoked because of a DUI conviction, brings a mandatory 7 days to 6 months in jail (no probation until 7 days are served) plus a $200-$750 fine. A driver under 21 caught with a 0.02% alcohol concentration is not subject to the 7-day jail term but gets a 30-day administrative suspension.

No one may drive a motor vehicle on a Wyoming highway without a driver's license valid for that class of vehicle, unless exempt. Violating the licensing act, including driving without a license, is a misdemeanor under the act's general penalty: a fine of up to $750. Licensees must carry the license and show it on demand (a digital license may be shown on a phone); a driver who later produces in court a license valid at the time cannot be convicted of failing to carry it.

No Wyoming statute names or bans particular knives such as switchblades or gravity knives, and none sets a blade-length limit. Knives fall under the general 'deadly weapon' definition, which turns on whether an object, in the manner it is used or intended to be used, is reasonably capable of causing death or serious injury. Carrying a concealed deadly weapon is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750; a felony for a repeat) unless an exception applies, and the statute's permit-free exception is worded for firearms. Possessing a deadly weapon intending to threaten or injure someone is a felony (up to 5 years). Taking a deadly weapon into a courtroom without the judge's permission is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $5,000), and into a jail or prison a felony. A student with a deadly weapon on a school bus or school grounds must be expelled for one year (a school-discipline rule, not a crime).

State law starts from a general ban: selling, giving away, using or setting off fireworks is unlawful except as the fireworks article allows. Local governing bodies may permit supervised public displays, and the ban does not stop sales to permit holders or fairs, sales shipped directly out of state, or signal, mining and similar non-entertainment uses. Counties may adopt rules authorizing the sale of consumer fireworks (the items allowed under federal CPSC rules) or may ban their sale or use, and county voters can petition for an election on a ban. Cities and towns may adopt further restrictions but may not authorize anything state law forbids. A violation is a misdemeanor with up to a $750 fine and/or 60 days in jail. The statute sets no statewide age limit or dates.

Kidnapping is unlawfully removing someone from their home, business or location, or confining them, by force, threat or deception (or, for a child under 14 or an incompetent person, without a guardian's consent), intending to hold them for ransom or as a shield or hostage, to help commit a felony, or to injure or terrorize them. If the defendant voluntarily releases the victim substantially unharmed and in a safe place before trial, it is a felony punishable by up to 20 years; otherwise it is 20 years to life (or as provided for murder cases). Felonious restraint (knowingly restraining someone unlawfully in a way that exposes them to risk of serious bodily injury, or holding someone in involuntary servitude) is a felony punishable by up to 5 years.

A terroristic threat (threatening to commit any violent felony intending to cause the evacuation of a building, place of assembly or public transit facility, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or recklessly risking that) is a felony punishable by up to 3 years. Blackmail (threatening bodily injury or property damage, or threatening to accuse someone of a crime or disgraceful conduct, to get property or force someone to act) is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, or 5 to 25 years as aggravated blackmail if someone is injured.

Wyoming charges vehicle theft under its general theft law: knowingly taking or exercising control over another's property without authorization, by threat or by deception, intending to deprive the owner of its use or benefit. Theft is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both if the property is worth $1,000 or more, and a misdemeanor (up to 1 year, a fine up to $1,500, or both) if it is worth less. A third or later theft offense is a felony (up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both) regardless of value.

Receiving stolen property is part of Wyoming's theft law: a person commits theft if he receives, lends money on (pawns), or disposes of another's property that he knew or reasonably should have known was stolen, intending to deprive the owner of it. Grades follow value: a felony (up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both) at $1,000 or more, or if the property is a firearm, horse, mule, sheep, cattle, buffalo or swine regardless of value; a misdemeanor (up to 1 year, a fine up to $1,500, or both) below $1,000. Amounts from a common scheme or the same transaction may be added together.

Wyoming has no state law that creates a separate organized retail theft offense. Shoplifting is prosecuted as theft, graded by value (a felony at $1,000 or more), and amounts taken under a common scheme or in the same transaction, from the same or different victims, may be added together to reach the felony level. Using or possessing a device to shield merchandise from theft alarms, or to remove theft detection tags, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year, a fine up to $1,500, or both.

Manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with intent to manufacture or deliver methamphetamine or a Schedule I or II narcotic is punishable by up to 20 years, a fine up to $25,000, or both. Other Schedule I, II or III substances: up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both; Schedule IV: up to 2 years, up to $2,500, or both; Schedule V: up to 1 year, up to $1,000, or both. The same penalties apply to counterfeit substances. The penalty section reviewed does not set weight-based trafficking tiers.

Obtaining, or trying to obtain, a controlled substance or a prescription for one by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, including not telling a practitioner about a similar prescription received from another source in the past 30 days ('doctor shopping') or using a false name or address, is a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to 6 months, a fine up to $750, or both), a misdemeanor for a second offense (up to 1 year, up to $1,000, or both), and a felony for a third or later offense (up to 10 years, up to $10,000, or both). Altering or forging a prescription is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both. The court may or must order a substance use disorder assessment.

Causing serious bodily injury to another person while driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances (including a 0.08% alcohol concentration) is punishable by a fine of $2,000 to $5,000, up to 10 years in prison, or both, and up to 20 years for a person previously convicted under this provision; the driver's license is revoked. A death caused by an impaired or reckless driver is aggravated homicide by vehicle (up to 20 years).

Wyoming's speed-contest statute bars operators of commercial vehicles from engaging in a speed or acceleration contest or exhibition on a highway, and bars any person from aiding or abetting a speed or acceleration contest or exhibition on a highway, without approval of the governing body in charge of the highway. A violation is punishable by a fine of $10 to $100, up to 10 days in county jail, or both. No license suspension or vehicle forfeiture appears in that section.

Operating or being in actual physical control of a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to a degree that makes safe operation impossible, or with an alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more in a motorboat, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $750, up to 6 months in jail, or both, and the person may be barred from operating any watercraft on state waters for up to 2 years. Owners who knowingly let an impaired person operate their watercraft also violate the law. A death caused by an impaired boat operator can be charged as aggravated homicide by vehicle (up to 20 years).

Knowingly or willfully making a false or fraudulent statement in an insurance application or to obtain money or a benefit, presenting a false or fraudulent claim or proof of loss, or preparing a false document to support a claim violates the Insurance Code. The insurance code's general penalty is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to 6 months in county jail, or both, unless another law provides a greater penalty; the Insurance Commissioner may also impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 per offense ($50,000 a year).

Knowingly making a false statement, hiding a material fact, or conspiring to obtain SNAP (food stamp) benefits or other public welfare benefits, illegally buying, selling or trading SNAP benefits, or giving away resources to qualify is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both when the value is $500 or more, and a misdemeanor (up to 6 months, up to $750, or both) below $500. The state may recover the overpaid benefits, and benefits are cut off until the sentence is completed and full restitution is made. Medicaid fraud is a misdemeanor under $1,000 and a felony (up to 10 years, up to $10,000, or both) at $1,000 or more. Unemployment benefits fraud is a misdemeanor (up to $750, 90 days, or both) under $1,000 and a felony (up to 5 years, up to $5,000, or both) at $1,000 or more, with mandatory restitution and a 2-year disqualification from benefits.

Bribery (offering or giving a public servant any money, privilege or personal advantage in exchange for a vote, decision or other official action, or a public servant asking for or accepting one on that understanding) is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $5,000, or both. Accepting payment for past official favors, and a public servant soliciting payment for an official action that must be performed for free or at a lower fee, carry the same penalty.

Under the state sales tax law, no person may fail to file a return or pay tax, file a false return, or evade (or help another evade) the tax. A vendor who collects and keeps excess tax or intentionally fails to remit the full tax when due commits a misdemeanor if the amount is $500 or less (a fine up to $750, up to 6 months in jail, or both) and a felony if it exceeds $500 (a fine up to $5,000, up to 3 years, or both). Filing a false or fraudulent return is punishable under the false-claims law (a felony of up to 2 years, a fine up to $2,000, or both), and a deficiency due to fraud carries a 25% civil penalty. Selling or using sales-suppression software ('zappers') is a felony of up to 3 years.

Wyoming grades sexual assault in three degrees. First degree (sexual intrusion through physical force or forcible confinement, by threats of death, serious injury or kidnapping, on a person known to be physically helpless, or on a person incapable of understanding because of mental illness or disability) is a felony punishable by 5 to 50 years. Second degree (intrusion by threats of future retaliation, secretly administering an impairing substance, abusing a position of authority, by correctional or school staff over residents or students, or by a health care provider in the course of treatment) is a felony punishable by 2 to 20 years. Third degree (sexual contact under those circumstances without intrusion or serious injury) is a felony punishable by up to 15 years. A repeat first- or second-degree offense carries 25 years to life, and two or more prior qualifying adult convictions require life without parole; for age-based offenses see the age-of-consent page.

Wyoming calls this 'sexual abuse of a minor.' First degree (sexual intrusion by someone 16 or older on a child under 13, or by an adult guardian, relative or person in a position of authority on a minor under 18 or under 16) is a felony punishable by up to 50 years, or 25 to 50 years if the offender is 21 or older and the child is under 13. Second degree (for example, intrusion by someone 17 or older on a 13- to 15-year-old at least four years younger, or sexual contact by someone 16 or older with a child under 13) is a felony punishable by up to 20 years. Third degree (including sexual contact by someone 17 or older with a 13- to 15-year-old at least four years younger, or taking indecent liberties with a minor under 17) carries up to 15 years, and fourth degree up to 5 years. An adult with a prior qualifying sex-offense conviction who commits first- or second-degree abuse faces life without parole.

Wyoming calls this 'sexual exploitation of children.' Causing or permitting a child under 18 to be used to make child pornography, or making, receiving, distributing or possessing it with intent to deliver (including by computer), or using an artificial intelligence system to create it, is a felony punishable by 5 to 12 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both. Simple possession, including possession of AI-generated child pornography the person knows was AI-generated, is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both. A second or later conviction carries 7 to 12 years. The definition covers computer-generated images of a child or of someone 'virtually indistinguishable' from a child, and offenders forfeit the images and property used in or gained from the crime.

Wyoming's grooming law covers online and in-person conduct. An adult at least four years older than a minor who purposely or knowingly engages in a pattern of grooming (including sending electronic messages, such as on social media or gaming platforms) to manipulate the minor into sexual conduct, entice the minor to meet for sex, share sexually explicit material, or exploit a position of authority commits a felony: up to 5 years and/or $10,000, up to 10 years if the minor is 13 to 15, and up to 15 years and/or $15,000 if the minor is under 12 (higher, up to 30 years, for a person in a position of authority). Offenders must complete sex offender treatment and may be placed on probation for up to 10 years. Separately, an adult who solicits a child under 14, or someone purported to be under 14, to engage in sexual intrusion commits a felony punishable by up to 5 years.

People convicted of listed sex offenses (including sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, child sexual exploitation, grooming, soliciting a minor, and certain trafficking and kidnapping offenses), and juveniles adjudicated delinquent for the most serious ones, must register. The duty begins at sentencing and lasts for life, but lower-level offenders (annual in-person verification) may petition the court for relief after 10 years of registration with a clean record, and middle-level offenders (verification every 6 months) after 25 years; the most serious offenders verify every 3 months and generally have no relief path, except juveniles, who may petition after 10 years. Knowingly failing to register is a felony punishable by up to 5 years and/or a $1,000 fine, and a subsequent violation up to 10 years; willfully failing to pay registration fees is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750).

A person convicted of (or who pleaded guilty to) a violent felony, or an attempt, who has not been pardoned or had rights restored, and who uses or knowingly possesses a firearm commits a felony punishable by up to 3 years, a fine up to $5,000, or both. For a felony that is not a violent felony, the same conduct is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months, a fine up to $750, or both. For a person convicted of a nonviolent Wyoming felony (with no other felony), the right to possess a firearm is restored five years after completing the sentence, including probation or parole; the governor may also issue a certificate of restoration of rights after the sentence or probation ends. Antique firearms are excluded.

Knowingly and without authorization accessing a computer or network, or denying service to authorized users (a crime against computer users), is a felony punishable by up to 3 years and/or $3,000, or up to 10 years and/or $10,000 if done to defraud or obtain property. Modifying or destroying data or programs, or taking confidential data worth more than $750, follows the same scale. Sending malware with intent to damage or cause malfunction (computer trespass) is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750) if damages are under $10,000, and a felony (up to 10 years and/or $10,000) at $10,000 or more. Introducing ransomware that demands payment to remove it or repair the damage (computer extortion) is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both.

One-party consent. A person may record a phone call or an in-person (oral) conversation if the person is a party to it or one party has given prior consent, unless it is recorded to commit a criminal or tortious act. Intentionally intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication without that consent, or using or disclosing one known to be illegally intercepted, is a felony punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to 5 years in prison, or both. Intercepting the radio portion of a cordless or cellular phone call or a paging communication is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750).

Knowingly making a false report to 911, a police agency or a fire department that a crime has been committed is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months and/or $750. Falsely reporting that an emergency exists is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year and/or $1,000. If the false emergency report causes someone serious bodily harm, it is a felony punishable by up to 5 years and/or $5,000, and if it results in a death, it is manslaughter. The statute does not use the word 'swatting'.

Wyoming has no state law that increases the penalty for a crime because the victim was chosen for race, religion, sexual orientation or another protected characteristic. Its criminal code does make it a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750) to deny someone equal enjoyment of public accommodations because of race, religion, color, sex or national origin, or to deny someone the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness or the necessities of life because of race, color, sex, creed or national origin.

Wyoming has parole. A parolee remains in the legal custody of the Board of Parole and may be returned to prison for violating a condition. Before seeking revocation, the agent must hold a hearing (unless waived; a preliminary hearing is not required when the violation is a new felony conviction), with written notice, the right to consult others, confront accusers, and present evidence; for people paroled by the board, the hearing is before the board's executive director or a designated hearing officer. Minor compliance violations are handled with administrative sanctions, and the board must consider a sanction before ordering a violator to serve the remainder of the original sentence, which is the default result of revocation unless the board orders otherwise.

Willfully violating a domestic violence order of protection is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $750, or both. Willfully violating a stalking order of protection carries the same penalty. Stalking someone in violation of a temporary or permanent protection order is felony stalking, punishable by up to 10 years. The protection order statutes read do not set a separate higher penalty for repeat violations.

Wyoming gives juvenile court exclusive jurisdiction over children under 13 charged with felonies or serious misdemeanors. Otherwise cases generally start in juvenile court, but the district attorney may file directly in adult court for a felony by a minor 17 or older, a violent felony by a minor 14 or older, or a felony by a minor 14 or older with two prior felony delinquency adjudications (and for most misdemeanors). The juvenile court may also transfer a case to adult court after a hearing (with no jury), weighing factors such as the seriousness and violence of the offense, the juvenile's maturity and record, and the prospects for rehabilitation, and must state its reasons on the record. Statements made at the transfer hearing cannot be used against the child at trial.

Yes, in law. First-degree murder is punishable by death, life imprisonment without parole or life imprisonment; a person who was under 18 at the time of the offense can only receive life imprisonment, and a death sentence requires the separate sentencing procedure in W.S. 6-2-102 when the state seeks it. The statute sets the method as lethal injection, with lethal gas if lethal injection is held unconstitutional.

A person convicted of a felony cannot vote while in prison, on parole or on probation, and stays disqualified until rights are restored. A person convicted of a nonviolent felony (or several nonviolent felonies from the same occurrence) who has no other felony conviction gets voting rights back automatically: the Department of Corrections issues a certificate of restoration of voting rights once the whole sentence, including probation or parole, is complete (people who finished before January 1, 2010, or were convicted in another state, must send a written request). People convicted of a violent felony must apply to the Governor, who may restore rights after the sentence expires or probation is completed. A new felony conviction voids any certificate.

A felony conviction takes away the rights to vote, serve on a jury, hold public office and possess firearms unless the conviction is reversed or annulled, the person is pardoned, or rights are restored. Voting: automatic certificate from the Department of Corrections for first-time nonviolent felons after the full sentence. Other rights (jury, office, and for Wyoming nonviolent convictions, firearms): restored automatically five years after the sentence, including probation or parole, is complete, if the person has no other felony conviction. Anyone convicted of a felony can also apply to the Governor for a certificate restoring rights after the sentence expires or probation ends, and the Governor handles pardons. A violent felon who possesses a firearm without a pardon or restoration commits a felony (up to 3 years and/or $5,000).

A person convicted of a violent felony who has two or more prior felony convictions, charged and tried separately and arising from separate occurrences, is a 'habitual criminal.' With two prior convictions the sentence is 10 to 50 years in prison; with three or more prior convictions for offenses committed after age 18, the sentence is life imprisonment. The law does not affect a death sentence or life without parole where those apply.

Banned as a product unless it stays within hemp limits. Since July 1, 2024, Wyoming counts delta-9 THC plus psychoactive analogs and psychoactive isomers of THC (such as delta-8) toward hemp's 0.3 percent THC limit, and 'hemp' cannot contain any 'synthetic substance' (any synthetic THC, synthetic cannabinoid or other psychoactive substance). No one may produce, process or sell hemp products above 0.3 percent THC or add a synthetic substance; intentional violations of the hemp chapter are misdemeanors (up to 6 months and/or $750). Products outside the hemp definition are treated as controlled substances (tetrahydrocannabinols are Schedule I). Separately, selling or giving THC edibles or THC vaping products to anyone under 18 is a misdemeanor (fines up to $250, $500 and $750 for repeat violations).

Illegal. Psilocybin and psilocyn are Schedule I hallucinogens. Possessing a small amount (for example, no more than 3 ounces in plant form or 3 grams in powder or pill form) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, with up to 5 years and/or $5,000 for a third or later offense; possessing more is a felony punishable by up to 5 years and/or $10,000. Manufacturing or delivering it, or possessing it with intent to deliver, is punishable by up to 10 years and/or $10,000.

Legal for adults 21 and older, with regulation effective July 1, 2026. It is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000) to sell or distribute a kratom product that is adulterated, sold to someone under 21, has 7-hydroxymitragynine above 2 percent of its alkaloid content, looks like candy or appeals to children, or is meant to be smoked or vaped; to sell without the required label (ingredients, warnings, serving directions and mitragynine and 7-OH amounts); or to display it where people under 21 can reach it. Retailers with three or more violations in two years can be barred from selling kratom for up to 180 days.

Allowed when it qualifies as hemp. Wyoming's controlled substances law does not apply to possessing or using hemp or hemp products for any purpose. Hemp products, including cannabinoid extracts, must contain no synthetic substance and no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis, counting delta-9 THC and psychoactive THC analogs and isomers. The possession, purchase, sale, transportation and use of hemp and hemp products is allowed, subject to those limits and the under-18 rule for THC edibles and vapes.

21. No one may sell, give or deliver nicotine products (tobacco products and e-cigarettes, including vapor liquid with nicotine or synthetic nicotine) to anyone under 21; fines run up to $250, $500 and $750 for repeat violations within 24 months, and repeat retailers can be barred from selling for up to 180 days. A person under 21 who buys, tries to buy, possesses or uses nicotine products commits a misdemeanor punishable by a $25 fine; the person is cited rather than arrested, and the court may allow community service or a cessation program instead.

Wyoming protects 'vulnerable adults': anyone 18 or older who cannot manage or care for themselves or their money or property without help because of advanced age or physical or mental disability. Reckless abuse, neglect, abandonment, intimidation or exploitation is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000). Intentional abuse, neglect or abandonment, and any exploitation (for example taking control of the person's money or property by deception, intimidation or undue influence, including misuse of a power of attorney or guardianship), is a felony punishable by up to 10 years and/or $10,000. Offenders are also listed on the state's central registry.

Secretly looking into a place where someone expects privacy (restroom, bath, shower, dressing room, bedroom) or under someone's clothing without consent is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750). Capturing an image with a camera or recording device, or recording intimate areas under clothing without consent, is a felony (up to 5 years and/or $5,000). An adult who commits voyeurism against a victim under 18 faces a felony of up to 10 years and/or $5,000, and an adult with a prior voyeurism conviction faces up to 5 years and/or $5,000. A minor convicted of the camera offense commits a status offense (fine up to $250).

Intentionally and knowingly causing or trying to cause bodily injury to a peace officer (including probation and parole agents) performing official duties is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison; disarming an officer is a felony (up to 5 years); and obstructing or resisting arrest is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000). By comparison, simple assault is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $750, and battery is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750). Throwing bodily fluids or other dangerous substances at corrections or detention officers is a separate crime: a misdemeanor if reckless, a felony (up to 5 years and/or $5,000) if intentional.