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Attorneys/Judges
Judge(s):
Keith Kautz
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
Please vote on whether or not you feel the sentence in this case was appropriate for the crime. (Be sure to read the entire case and sentencing before voting.)
weak sentence = one star strong sentence = 5 stars
more information on voting
When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "Peoples Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isnt enough.
When Dexter, a 35-pound basset hound, was rushed to a Wyoming veterinary hospital on February 16th, Dr. Stephen Kerr said it was "the worst case of animal abuse I've ever seen" in 20 years of practice.
Dexter had been beaten until his right side was paralyzed, he was bleeding internally and he had extensive brain injuries. Yet according to Dr. Kerr, "he still managed to wag his tail and kiss care providers."
Weeks later, Dexter was stolen again from his owner's home. He was then tortured, mutilated, and set on fire before his charred body was thrown on to his owner's driveway. Goshen County Sheriff Don Murphy, recognizing the severity of the situation, had Dexter's remains transported to Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory in Laramie. Lab veterinarian Todd Cornish said that, "All four of his legs were cut off - probably before the dog was burned." Sheriff's deputies later arrested Travis L. Wilson, a college classmate of Dexter's owner, for the crime. Mr. Wilson pled not guilty to animal cruelty charges as well as additional charges of interference with a police officer and unlawful drug possession.
Wilson was formally charged with one count of burglary on March 28, 2001. Arraignment for this charge was held before the district court on June 28, 2001, and, pursuant to a plea agreement, Wilson entered a guilty plea. On August 28, 2001, Wilson was sentenced to four to seven years at the Wyoming State Penitentiary. Further, the district court ordered that Wilson be considered for participation in the Youthful Offender Boot Camp.
On February 7, 2002, Wilson filed a motion to withdraw guilty plea alleging that his guilty plea was involuntary and the product of ineffective assistance of counsel. After hearing, this motion was denied by the district court.
Case Updates
Travis Wilson was convicted on July 20, 2001 of misdemeanor animal abuse and sentenced a month later to four-to-seven years in prison (see The Scoop Aug. 31, 2001 "Convicted Dog Killer..."). But early this month, his sentence was suspended.
The Torrington Telegram reported on Sep. 9 that Judge Kautz suspended Wilson's sentence and placed him on supervised probation for four years. Wilson will live in a "half-way" house where he will engage in mandatory counseling and be able to acquire full-time employment.
On Tuesday, August 28, Travis Wilson was sentenced for felony burglary in the theft of "Dexter". The courts ruled that Travis will serve 4-7 years in prison.
Although animal cruelty is only a misdemeanor in Wyoming, Goshen County Sheriff Don Murphy says the hundreds of phone calls and emails he's received about the Dexter case convinced him the legislature should make extreme animal abuse a felony.
As well, other Goshen County officials have received as many as 2,000 outraged e-mails, letters and phone calls from as far away as Europe and Australia, according to the Denver Post, which has been reporting on the case for several months.
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