Wyoming

Elk Fire update (as of 2:12 p.m. Oct. 2)

Published

2 years ago

October 2, 2024

Elk Fire update (as of 2:12 p.m. Oct. 2)

Sibley fire confirmed as part of Elk Fire

Complex Incident Management Team 3 officials confirmed fire at Sibley Lake and campground. Officials could not confirm start time or size, but confirmed that fire in the Sibley area is part of the larger Elk Fire.

The team is working on a larger fire update this afternoon.

All schools on the Tongue River side of district to be closed Oct. 3

Tongue River High School, elementary, middle school and Slack School will be closed Oct. 3 and there will be no virtual online expectation for schooling.

TRE and TRMS will dismiss as normal at 4 p.m. Oct. 2, TRHS was online and Slack was closed.

At 11 a.m. Oct. 2, Sheridan County School District 1 Superintendent Jeff Jones held a Zoom meeting with a large group of administrators and supervisory staff from across the district. In the meeting, Jones gathered information regarding the current status of the school district as a result of the fire.

“Not surprisingly, the impact is getting more and more difficult to manage. We have a large, growing number of staff members absent because they are either fighting the fire, needing to leave to get to Dayton so they can prepare for the potential of an evacuation, etc. We have many more staff members who, while they may still be in school, are incredibly shaken because in one way or another, they are greatly impacted by what is happening at this moment,” Jones said in an email to SCSD1 staff and families.

All activities on the Tongue River side are canceled for the balance of the week and weekend. This includes practices as well as home and away games. Efforts will be made to reschedule the events.

“There are scenarios where we simply don’t have bus drivers, coaches, etc. We also don’t want students to be coming in and out of the parking lot at TRHS to get things to get to a practice or game,” Jones said in an email to district staff and families. “Finally, to be frank, it doesn’t make sense to be playing a ballgame out of town while your family’s home is in jeopardy of burning down. Every effort will be made to reschedule events.”

For families who need extra time to prepare things in Dayton, there will be staff at TRE and TRMS who are willing to stay longer after school with children. The district also has extra space near the bus barn in Ranchester if people need extra space for campers, Jones said in the email.

Town of Dayton in “ready” pre-evacuation order

Here are the most recent evacuation orders, as of 10:55 a.m. Wednesday:

The Sheridan County Sheriff has increased the evacuation status of both the Eagle Ridge Subdivision and the residences directly adjacent to the east of U.S. Highway 14, going up the mountain, to “Set.” If you are in either of these areas, please take the time now to gather up important things and be prepared to evacuate if notified.

The town of Dayton has been placed in a “Ready,” or pre-evacuation, status. If you live in the town of Dayton, take the time now to think about what you would want to take with you or where you might go if the Town of Dayton is put into a “Set” status.

• Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman

• Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt.

• Town of Parkman residents and residents of north of Parkman, on both the east and west sides of Highway 345 up to the Montana state line are now under a pre-evacuation or, “ready,” notice. This does not include the Hersey Road area.

Residents in the “ready” stage should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Emergency personnel have contacted all affected residents directly.

The town of Dayton is not under a pre-evacuation notice or “ready” status at this time.

Fire exceeds 32,000 acres burned

The Elk Fire grew to 32,069 acres burned with no containment as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Additional air and ground resources arrived Tuesday to assist in fire control efforts.

“It’s important to note the effectiveness of air support is dependent on wind conditions and smoke coverage,” Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator Jesse Ludikhuize said in a press release.

Residents in Dayton and Ranchester areas should expect to see a significant increase in emergency vehicles.

Highway 14 still closed

Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess Junction remains closed, and all other closures from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to Forest Service roads — see below — remain in effect.

“We’re working diligently to minimize the impact on the community while keeping everyone informed,” Ludikhuize said. “Please continue to respect evacuation notices and obey all road closures. It is crucial to stay out of the fire area to allow emergency personnel to work without obstruction.”

Highway 14 closure will be continually evaluated and adjustments will be made as conditions allow. The road remains closed due to thick smoke, fire conditions and the need to ensure the safety of emergency responders.

Fire impacts one firefighter, six buildings

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., signifying critical fire weather conditions, including low humidity and high winds, which could exacerbate the fire.

Since the beginning of the fire, six non-primary residential structures have been destroyed, including barns, outhouses and other non-primary residential buildings. All affected property owners have been notified by emergency personnel.

One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday, requiring transport to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where the person is currently receiving treatment.

Larger crew assumes management

Wyoming Type 3 Team transferred management of the fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Complex Incident Management Team 3 will host a public meeting Wednesday at Tongue River Middle School — relocated from Tongue River High School Wednesday at 11 a.m. due to growing evacuation concerns in Dayton — starting at 7 p.m.

The in-person meeting will be recorded and published later by the team, who will make themselves available to answer questions and address public concerns related to the fire.

The new incident management team assumed operational control Monday at 7 p.m., and all updates will come from that team. The group will establish a public contact number, to be shared soon, according to Ludikhuize.

No donations of food or supplies are needed for firefighters or emergency personnel at this time.

Students remain online Wednesday

Emergency management personnel contacted SCSD1 Superintendent Jeff Jones at 12:15 a.m. and advised that students and staff at Tongue River High School only to go online Wednesday.

“I will continue to stay in touch as I get more information in the morning,” Jones said in an email to SCSD1 staff and families. “Please continue to pray for our firefighters, emergency responders and all of the families impacted.”

Slack School is also closed.

Community support

Sheridan County YMCA will provide shower passes for anyone displaced by the Elk Fire. Check in with the front desk with your information and mention the fire relief effort. Additionally, while space allows, the Y is providing space for parking campers, but they do not have electricity hookups. To reserve a spot, call and ask for availability and fill out a form at the front desk to check in.

Those needing a place to take livestock or a place to stay in a camper may evacuate to the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. If you need a place to stay and you are evacuated, contact Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174. Emergency Management officials said staff will work with any resident that has pets to ensure they are also sheltered.

UPDATE: 5:15 a.m. Oct. 2

Due to the rapidly changing conditions of the Elk Fire, evacuation orders have been issued for Pass Creek Road and Twin Creek Road west of Parkman, and Tongue River Canyon west of Dayton, where the pavement turns to dirt.

In addition, the Town of Parkman residents and residents of north of Parkman, on both the east and west sides of Highway 345 up to the Montana state line are now under a pre-evacuation or, “ready,” notice. This does not include the Hersey Road area. Residents in the “ready” stage should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Emergency personnel have contacted all affected residents directly.

The Town of Dayton is not under a pre-evacuation notice or “ready” status at this time.

UPDATE: 12:38 a.m. Oct. 2

DAYTON — Because of worsening fire conditions near Dayton, Sheridan County School District 1 is being advised to have students and staff at Tongue River High School to stay online Oct. 2.

Emergency management personnel contacted SCSD1 Superintendent Jeff Jones at 12:15 a.m. and advised that students and staff at TRHS only to go online Wednesday.

Slack School is also closed.

UPDATE: 11:45 p.m. Oct. 1

DAYTON — Evacuations have been ordered for all the residences on Pass Creek Road between East Pass Creek and Twin Creek Road and from the X bar X Ranch north to the state line.

Authorities have contacted residents.

The ranch is located at 846 Pass Creek Road in Parkman.

UPDATE: 5 p.m. Oct. 1

DAYTON — Fire suppression efforts continue. The latest update includes additional acreage burned, a minor injury, a scheduled public meeting and Tongue River High School students returning to in-person instruction.

Fire exceeds 32,000 acres burned

The Elk Fire grew to 32,069 acres burned with no containment as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. Additional air and ground resources arrived Tuesday to assist in fire control efforts.

Residents in Dayton and Ranchester areas should expect to see a significant increase in emergency vehicles.

Highway 14 from Dayton to Burgess Junction remains closed, and all other closures from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to Forest Service roads — see below — remain in effect.

One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday, requiring transport to Sheridan Memorial Hospital, where the person is currently receiving treatment.

Larger crew assumes management

Wyoming Type 3 Team transferred management of the fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Complex Incident Management Team 3 will host a public meeting Wednesday at Tongue River High School in Dayton, starting at 7 p.m.

The in-person meeting will be recorded and published later by the team, who will make themselves available to answer questions and address public concerns related to the fire.

No donations of food or supplies are needed for firefighters or emergency personnel at this time.

Students return to in-person learning Wednesday

Tongue River High School students will return to the physical classroom Wednesday.

“The situation has significantly improved near the high school and there is a presence of personnel and equipment (on the ground and in the air) in that area which has reduced the level of risk,” Sheridan County School District 1 superintendent Jeff Jones said in a Oct. 1 email to district parents. “Obviously we will continue to monitor the situation, literally by the minute. If things change, we will adjust as needed and that will be communicated out to all staff and families.”

As an extra precaution, several buses and drivers will be stationed at Tongue River High School during the school day. This will allow the district to evacuate the school in a matter of minutes if necessary.

Sports practices at the high school will resume on the afternoon of Oct. 1. The district will monitor the air quality for outdoor activities, assuring students with breathing issues minimize exposure or be excused all together from practices outside if that is what they need. If you are a parent of a child in this situation, please reach out to your child’s principal or coach if you have questions or concerns.

The Slack School will continue online schooling on Oct. 2.

Community support

The Defense Health Agency announced TRICARE beneficiaries in Sheridan County may receive emergency prescription refills now through Oct. 11, 2024, due to the Elk Fire.

To receive an emergency refill of prescription medications, TRICARE beneficiaries should take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. If the bottle is unavailable or the label is damaged or missing, beneficiaries should contact Express Scripts, Inc., or their retail network pharmacy for assistance.

To find a network pharmacy, beneficiaries may call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303, or search the network pharmacy locator. If possible, visit the pharmacy where the prescription was filled.

UPDATE: 8:38 a.m. Oct. 1

PARKMAN — The Elk Fire continues to burn across the Bighorn mountain range stretching from Pass Creek Road to the Dayton area.

Tongue River High School closed Tuesday

Sheridan County School District 1 Superintendent Jeff Jones said Tongue River High School will remain closed Tuesday due to the fire.

“There is going to be a lot of action with equipment and personnel moving in the Tongue River High School area, (so) emergency personnel has asked that we keep students and staff at TRHS out again (Tuesday),” Jones said. All students from Tongue River High School will attend classes online.

Travel restrictions and road closures

According to the latest report from the Bighorn National Forest Service, the latest routes to be restricted to local residence traffic are:

• Pass Creek Road, County Road 144 (from intersection of Highway 345 and Pass Creek Road)

• Twin Creek Road (Access off of Parkman)

• Smith Creek Road (Intersection of Highway 343 and Smith Creek Road)

• Tongue River Canyon Road

• U.S. Highway 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction (as of 7 a.m. Oct. 1, estimated opening time is unknown)

Evacuations remain in place along these routes. Law enforcement and fire personnel are asking people to respect the closures on Pass Creek Road along with other restrictions listed.

Due to the location, nature and direction of the Elk Fire, the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Incident Command are concerned for the safety of the traveling public, hunters, campers and residents of the Burgess Junction area, and are asking those individuals to evacuate the area. A Bighorn National Forest Closure Order is in place for firefighter and public safety. The area closed is the area north of US Highway 14 and east of the border of the Medicine Wheel Ranger District and the Tongue Ranger District.

Individuals with properties or personal belongings accessible from U.S. Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 14A will not be allowed access.

The Bighorn Forest Service and WYDOT are asking the public to avoid any unnecessary travel or parking in the area that may impede in the ongoing efforts to suppress this fire.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol will be operating gates at Dayton and Burgess Junction. It is unknown how long the closure will last.

Size and containment

Cooler temperatures helped firefighting efforts Monday.

According to a report from the Wyoming Type 3 Team Tuesday morning, the fire has burned approximately 25,085 acres and is 0% contained.

There are six hand crews, three engines, four heavy equipment, two Type 1 helicopters, one Type 2 helicopter, one Type 3 helicopter and two air attack battling the blaze.

Monday, firefighting operations focused on the northern and eastern sides of the fire with crews working to remove vegetation by use of hand tools and strategically putting fire on the ground to consume vegetation, or fuel, between structures and the fire. Air resources were used to assist ground operations and ensure for firefighter safety. Tuesday, firefighters will continue to build fire line around the fire, where it is safe to do so, with the assistance of air resources. The strategy being implemented on this fire is full suppression. Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority, and the tactics used to suppress the fire will be determined by the terrain, fire and weather conditions, and medical response time.

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s on the fire area Tuesday with winds changing to be out of the southwest and relative humidity around 18%. The shift in wind may cause the fire to be active in different areas than Monday.

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Wyoming

Hoping to draw Colorado interest, construction begins at $80M betting facility in Laramie County

Published

27 minutes ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Hoping to draw Colorado interest, construction begins at M betting facility in Laramie County

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Foundation work is beginning this week on Wyoming’s next horse betting and gaming house.

The $80 million Wyoming Downs facility in Laramie County, one of two the company is investing in over the next couple of years, is poised to be one of the largest facilities of its kind in the state. The company is aiming for a spring 2027 opening.

The facility will host upwards of 600 historic horse racing machines, Wyoming’s largest TV wall, multiple dining options and more across 58,000 square feet. More land was bought for future hotel development. Commuters driving between Cheyenne and the Colorado border can see clearly from Interstate 25 the expansive development.

That placement along the travel corridor is purposeful, Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing President Kyle Ridgeway said.

“I think that the targeted consumer for this is from Colorado or from the Front Range,” Ridgeway said. “I anticipate we’re going to have plenty of people from Cheyenne come down here to play and enjoy the amenities, but when you look at 600,000 people within a 30-minute drive, that’s what justifies this investment and brings all that tax revenue in from another state, which is fantastic.

“We don’t get the opportunity to do that in Wyoming very often.”

Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing President Kyle Ridgeway speaks to attendees at the joint venture’s groundbreaking ceremony for an $80 horse betting facility in Laramie County June 2, 2026. (Garrett Grochowski, Cap City News)

There is still plenty to offer Cheyenne residents besides the facility’s amenities. Ridgeway said in a speech to attendees at the project’s groundbreaking Tuesday, June 2, that more than 150 permanent jobs will be supported by the facility on top of the dozens supported by the companies’ corporate offices and the 400-plus involved in the project’s construction.

Groathouse Construction, a Wyoming business, is the project’s general contractor. Wyoming Downs said it believes putting the project in local hands also helps keep the project uniquely Wyoming-focused.

Ridgeway added the facilities have already proven themselves to be effective tax revenue generators for the local governments. The Wyoming Gaming Commission’s 2025 report, released in late May, shows bettors wagered $2.49 billion on historic horse racing machines last year, a jump from the $2.11 billion wagered in 2024.

Wyoming Downs facilities generate roughly $25 million in taxes annually across the state, and Ridgeway estimated after the ceremony that the upcoming $80 million facility alone will generate an additional $3 million for Laramie County once the property has been in operation for a few years.

Horse betting sites have been increasingly popping up across Wyoming this decade. The Wyoming Downs location will be Cheyenne’s second large-scale horse betting facility since 2024, when the 30,000-square-foot Horse Palace at Swan Ranch opened. Ridgeway said Wyoming Downs is still offering something fresh for tourists and residents.

“This’ll have amenities that Swan Ranch doesn’t have, including the largest TV wall in Wyoming and a pretty super-cool sports viewing area with a restaurant and just a level of finish and class that I don’t think Wyoming has quite seen yet with these types of properties,” he said.

Ridgeway said he thinks resident fatigue with these facilities isn’t as strong as it appears, especially given the tourism benefits of off-track betting.

“Wyoming’s been built on mineral extraction and tourism, and what this is is a touristic facility. I’m not aware of any particular pushback about this specific facility outside of — you see random social media comments where people say, ‘Oh, another gambling facility.’ But where this is located, I think people in Cheyenne have generally been supportive of,” he said.

The Laramie County facility will be just one part of a larger project Wyoming Downs is working on over the next few years. Construction will begin in early 2027 on a similar facility in Evanston looking to draw in Utah and western Colorado crowds.

Some of the company’s current facilities, notably in Casper, Cheyenne and Rock Springs, will see millions poured into renovations as well. New smaller-scale parlors will also go up in Gillette and Green River this year, according to an information packet provided by the company.

More details will come as the construction process develops, Ridgeway said. Details about amenities, such as what the complex’s dining options will look like, remain undisclosed, though Ridgeway promised that options will be “excellent.”

“We haven’t made final selections on what the options are, but we have a number of different options on the table that we’re considering for what we want to offer for the customers,” Ridgeway said. “You have to have something that’s high quality for where this is located. If somebody’s going to drive 25 or 35, or even 45 minutes to come here, they got to be able to sit down and have a quality meal.”

For more information as it becomes available and to learn more about Wyoming Downs facilities and 307 Horse Racing‘s events and offerings, see the companies’ websites. Renderings for the upcoming Cheyenne facility commissioned by the company are available for viewing below.

Rendering of an exterior section of the Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing gaming facility, which begins construction the week of June 1, 2026, and will likely open sometime in spring 2027 (Image courtesy of Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing)

Rendering of an interior section of the Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing gaming facility, which begins construction the week of June 1, 2026, and will likely open sometime in spring 2027 (Image courtesy of Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing)

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Wyoming

Megan Degenfelder, Brent Bien face off in gubernatorial campaign debate

Published

11 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Megan Degenfelder, Brent Bien face off in gubernatorial campaign debate

GILLETTE, Wyo. — Two of the Republican candidates for Wyoming governor, Megan Degenfelder and Brent Bien, went head to head in Campbell County this evening. They both highlighted differences in some areas but agreed on energy, public lands, government oversight, abortion and election security.

Degenfelder, Wyoming’s superintendent of public instruction, introduced herself as “a Wyoming ranch kid whose parents clawed their way into the middle class” and said she believes Wyoming is “worth fighting for” because she believes the Wyoming people’s lives are at stake.

Bien, a retired Marine Corps colonel and combat veteran, pointed to his military career and leadership experience.

“My whole adult life has been about leadership, about principled conservative leadership,” he said. “My objective is to restore principled conservative leadership, accountability and discipline to Cheyenne.”

Nuclear energy

Both candidates supported Wyoming’s role in energy production but opposed bringing outside nuclear waste into the state.

“I do not want Wyoming to be … the permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel. I will not allow that to happen on my watch,” Bien said.

Degenfelder said Wyoming should consider nuclear power as part of its energy future but added, “If it works for us to be able to have nuclear as part of the portfolio, then it has to be right for Wyoming and that is ensuring that we do not accept anyone else’s waste, period.”

Public lands

The candidates also opposed privatization of public lands.

“No one loves public lands more than I do,” Degenfelder said. “You start selling that to the highest bidder, Wyoming loses who we are.”

Bien said he is “absolutely opposed” to federal lands being sold to private interests.

“If they do decide to dispose of it, then we as the state of Wyoming should get first-right refusal at no cost,” he said.

Attorney general and judicial appointments

When asked what each would be looking for in an attorney general and judicial appointment, both candidates called for conservative leadership.

Bien said he would seek an attorney general from outside state government.

“I want a clean set of eyes to look at what everything’s been that’s been going on,” he said. “I want someone who will put people first and it will put Wyoming first.”

Degenfelder said she wants stronger advocacy from state agencies.

“I want a bulldog in not just the attorney general’s office, but in all state agencies,” she said. “I want an attorney general that is so aligned to my mission and vision and what I believe that there’s an amicus brief on my desk the next morning after an action takes place.”

Immigration

Both candidates supported stronger immigration enforcement.

Bien explained he wanted to cooperate with ICE “to the fullest extent possible” and to make sure immigrants who are not in the United States legally would be sent out of the state.

Degenfelder said illegal immigration is already affecting communities in Wyoming.

“If you’re here legally, you got nothing to worry about. If you aren’t, it’s time to go home,” she said.

Energy development and green energy

Energy policy generated some of the sharpest comments of the night.

Degenfelder argued renewable energy projects should compete without government support.

“I’m also an economist and so I’ll tell you the way that you kill these green energy, you make them play on the same playing field,” she said. “No more tax subsidies, no more handouts, ensuring the regulatory environment is just as equal.”

Bien took a firmer stance against renewable development.

“Folks, there’s no place in Wyoming for this green energy,” he said. “I want these things bonded up front and where we’re not paying for these like we did all the gas wells. The answer for me is absolutely, unequivocally no.”

Economic development

Degenfelder argued government should focus on infrastructure such as water and sewer systems rather than directing economic development.

“Government does not create jobs. Private business does,” she said.

Bien echoed that sentiment.

“The only business that government has in business is simply to get out of the way. It’s to cut taxes. It’s to deregulate,” he said. “Right now, we’re turning into state capitalism where we have our own state government picking winners and losers.”

Government audits

Both candidates supported increased auditing of state government.

“This state has not done a full-blown budgetary audit since 1989,” Bien said. “Whoever’s belly-aching loudest is going to get audited first.”

Degenfelder agreed.

“We should be auditing every single state agency, every single budget line all the time,” she said. “Government is a beast, and you need someone in there who can tame it and who knows how to do it.”

Abortion

Abortion was another topic where both candidates expressed strong opposition.

“Life starts at conception and there are no exceptions,” Degenfelder said. “We are now one of the most openly abortion states in the country because of that ruling by the Supreme Court. We’re working against the devil here.”

Bien also opposed abortion.

“Folks, for me, there are no exceptions. Life does begin at conception,” he said.

Election integrity

Bien advocated for hand-counting ballots.

“I am very much a proponent of hand tabulation being the primary method of counting all cast paper ballots and I will push that way,” he said.

Degenfelder called for paper ballots statewide.

“Every single ballot should be a paper ballot,” she said, adding that she supports “banning dropboxes.”

Republican platform

Both candidates pledged support for the Wyoming Republican Party platform.

“80% is a no-brainer, and we need to require that out of our elected officials,” Degenfelder said.

Bien said he expects to be held to “100%” of the platform.

“The party’s been co-opted. You have to have an ‘R’ behind your name to win in this state,” he said.

Candidate priorities

During a segment where candidates selected their own discussion topics, Degenfelder highlighted school choice, career and technical education, removing pornography from school libraries and protecting Wyoming’s water rights.

Bien focused on education and agriculture, criticizing student proficiency rates and proposing policies aimed at strengthening Wyoming’s agricultural industry, including declaring agriculture critical infrastructure and reducing regulations on small butcheries.

Technology and education

Although technology and its place within education was not discussed during the debate, County 17 asked both Degenfelder and Bien their thoughts regarding student technology in schools.

Bien said technology is being used too much in classrooms and is making it harder for students to think on their own.

“What it’s doing is it’s dumbing down our kids,” Bien said. “Our kids aren’t learning how to critically think anymore. They go straight to one of the AI things and it generates an answer for them.”

Degenfelder said she backed a bill to ban cellphones during instruction time.

“I supported a bill that came through the legislature a couple of years ago that actually would ban cell use during instructional time, and I stand by that,” Degenfelder said. “I think that it’s appropriate to take cellphones out of classrooms, and what we find is that kids thrive.”

Closing statements

In closing remarks, Bien emphasized his experience as an outsider candidate.

“I am the only outsider in this race, but I am the only one who’s got an inordinate amount of leadership experience,” he said. “Folks, you deserve a government that you can trust.”

Degenfelder pointed to her endorsements from President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman.

“I get asked a lot, ‘How did you get the Trump endorsement?’” Degenfelder said. “The answer is really simple. I earned it.”

Alongside other candidates, Bien and Degenfelder will be competing for support in Wyoming’s Republican gubernatorial primary Aug. 18.

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Wyoming

Wyoming man imprisoned for sexually assaulting girl at Colorado water park

Published

21 hours ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming man imprisoned for sexually assaulting girl at Colorado water park

A 19-year-old Cheyenne man was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for sexually assaulting a young girl at a metro Denver water park last summer.

Trenton Moskovita was also ordered to undergo Sex Offender Intensive Supervised Probation for at least 10 years after his release. It could last the rest of his life. The duration of such a probation typically depends on whether a defendant is determined to be successfully rehabilitated.

Trenton Moskovita following his arrest in June 2025.

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office

Moskovita was arrested June 7, 2025, after Englewood Police Department officers were called to Pirates Cove Water Park in Littleton by employees. The girl, whose age was not provided, ran from a bathroom and told her mother about the assault. The girl later told investigators that Moskovita grabbed her, pulled into a family restroom, and pulled down his pants.

Moskovita immediately denied the child’s allegations. He told investigators the girl wanted help finding her parents, which he agreed to do but only after he went to the bathroom first, according to his arrest affidavit.

Officers were able to observe surveillance camera recordings which showed Moskovita motioning the girl toward him, then grabbing her hand and taking her into the restroom. They were inside nine minutes before the girl ran out of it, per the affidavit.

Moskovita eventually pleaded guilty to felony kidnapping and sexual assault on a child charges.

“This defendant brazenly preyed upon a vulnerable child in a community space where families expect to be safe,” said 23rd Judicial Deputy District Attorney Tory Reavis in a press release. “The substantial sentence handed down this week reflects our absolute commitment to holding predators accountable and removing them from our streets.”

The judge ordered Moskovita to pay almost $7,000 to the girl and her family for costs of the girl’s mental health treatment, with additional money possible for future treatment.

The DA’s office stated the Sex Offender Intensive Supervised Probation is a program with significantly stricter requirements than standard probation.

The DA’s office referred to Moskovita as a Wyoming resident. A search of online public records indicated Cheyenne was his place of residence.

Incidentally, the water park has a Littleton address but is technically within Englewood PD’s jurisdiction.

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