Big Piney man dies in crash

DANIEL (WNE) -– On March 5, a fatal crash occurred at milepost 123 on US Highway 189 south of Daniel. Around 9:18 p.m., Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the area for a two-vehicle collision. 

A 2014 Ford Escape was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 189 when the vehicle crossed the center line and entered the northbound lane, colliding with a 2009 Dodge Ram. 

The driver of the Ford has been identified as 26-year-old Big Piney resident Cory J. Sequera. Sequera was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene of the crash. 

The driver of the Dodge has been identified as 22-year-old Pinedale resident Cassidy Jensen. Jensen was not wearing her seatbelt and was transported to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County for injuries sustained in the crash. 

The crash is still under investigation. 

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Game and Fish investigates poaching of bull elk

SHERIDAN (WNE) — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking the public’s assistance in the case of a bull elk poached in northern Sheridan County the evening of March 6.

The bull elk was shot on private property along Pass Creek Road.

The head of the elk was removed along with the back straps and both hindquarters. The front shoulders and tenderloins were left on the carcass to waste.

A flatbed pickup truck with a grill guard was observed in the area that evening, but no other identifying information is available. The truck was seen in Wyoming and traveling toward Montana.

The hunting season for bull elk in that hunt area closed on Nov. 5, 2018.

A cash reward is available for those who provide evidence that leads to the arrest and conviction of any person who takes a big game animal without a license or out of season.

Anyone with information about this poaching incident can contact Dayton Game Warden Dustin Shorma at 307-655-9495, the Sheridan Regional Office at 307-672-7418 or call the STOP POACHING hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847). Tips can also be reported online by visiting the Game and Fish website at www.wgfd.wyo.gov/law-enforcement/stop-poaching or by texting keyword WGFD and the message to 847-411.

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Man sentenced to prison for sexual contact

RIVERTON (WNE) — An Arapahoe man has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison last month for abusive sexual contact.

Court documents state that Ora Ignatius Little Jr., 50, of Arapahoe, pleaded guilty to touching his victim's inner thigh through the clothing in March 2013 and March 2015.

Another charge against him, which was dismissed as part of a plea deal, alleged that he touched the genitalia of a person who was younger than 12 years old in March 2007 and again in March 2011.

He was arrested in Lander and initially appeared in court in May 2018.

He pleaded not guilty at that time and was released on bond.

Little changed his plea during a hearing in November 2018 and was sentenced in February to 42 months in prison.

The sentence also requires Little to serve 10 years of supervised release, with special conditions. He also must pay a $100 special assessment and an additional a $2,500 assessment through the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. because the crime was committed on the Wind River Indian Reservation.

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Wyoming this Weekend, March 15-17

By The Wyoming News Exchange

A unique fundraiser for 4-H clubs across the state featuring the raffle of a filly and dancing for a chance to win $1,000 will top this weekend’s events

The Casper Stampede, a horse riding club, is holding its second annual Country Fling on Saturday at “The Hangar” near Casper, featuring dinner and a concert by Sean Curtis and The Divide. Along with silent and live auctions, the event will feature a raffle for $1,000. Each time someone dances through a song during the 4-hour concert, they will receive one ticket for the raffle.

Also being raffled is Remi, a filly born in May of 2017.

Other events scheduled for the weekend include:

Eastside RV’s “Fun Show” at Gillette’s Cam-Plex through the weekend;

A display of works by artist Morgan Price at the Edward A. Whitney Gallery in Sheridan through the weekend;

A performance by the Sheridan College Symphony Band on Sunday, and

A concert by Band of Outlaws at the Historic Sheridan Inn on Friday.

For more information on these and other events, please visit the Wyoming Tourism Division’s website at TravelWyoming.com.