Criminal Defense Attorney – Cheyenne, WY
Defense attorneys have a vital role in both criminal and civil law. As the name implies, they defend individuals against allegations and work to ensure their client’s rights are not violated inside or outside the courtroom. With years of both civil and criminal law experience, Ryan Wright is ready to help with your legal defense needs.
Defense lawyers have a wide range of duties – from gaining a deep understanding of their client’s case to knowing small details that can make a difference in an outcome. In a criminal case, this often involves analyzing all reports, interviews, and evidence, as well as understanding the background and facts regarding the incident. It’s also common for a legal defense team to speak with witnesses to gain firsthand information and conduct their own research.
Normally, a prosecutor will offer a defendant a plea deal before taking the matter to trial. While this often involves the defendant pleading guilty to a less serious crime, it’s important to have an attorney who is knowledgeable in criminal law advise the accused during this process. Sometimes a plea deal can be beneficial because of the time and money it saves. Other times, it may be better to proceed to trial. A knowledgeable defense attorney often knows the best option with the least amount of risk versus reward, and provides counsel regarding what to do.
When a criminal case goes to court, a defendant always benefits from an attorney that knows how to handle a criminal case in the courtroom. From voir dire (the process selecting jurors) to questioning and presenting evidence, a knowledgeable defense lawyer helps make sure their client’s rights are upheld in the courtroom.
Ryan has experience in controlled substance cases as well as other areas of criminal defense.
Ryan Wright has over seven years of experience as a prosecutor and has conducted numerous trials and courtroom hearings. As a former Deputy County Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, and Special Assistant United States Attorney, Ryan focused on narcotics and complex felonies and misdemeanors in numerous types of crimes. Ryan’s experience as a prosecutor gives him a unique perspective that allows him to defend clients and provide them with counsel.
Prior to becoming a prosecutor, Ryan was in private practice working in corporate and commercial law in New York. Ryan was raised in Wyoming and received formal education and experience elsewhere, which gave him a deep appreciation for Wyoming. These experiences gave Ryan different perspectives on legal issues in his practice. He believes that every case is different and what wins a case varies depending on the facts.
Ryan practices in appeals, business law, criminal defense, family law, personal injury, and general practice.
Previous Cases
The following are criminal cases that Ryan handled and their results. (Previous results do not guarantee a similar outcome in future cases.)
2023
State of Wyoming vs. R.D.T.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Robbery (Felony), Aggravated Battery (Felony).
Outcome: Dismissed on 8-21-2023
State of Wyoming vs. K.S.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Probation Violation – Revoked.
Outcome: Reinstated to probation on 6-28-2023
State of Wyoming vs. R.S.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Failure to Maintain Lane of Travel (misdemeanor).
Outcome: Dismissed on 5-22-2023
United States vs. H.M.
Practice Area: Federal Criminal Defense
Description: Unsafe Operation of a Motorcycle (Yellowstone National Park- Federal Misdemeanor).
Outcome: Dismissed on 8-23-2023
United States vs. D.P.
Practice Area: Federal Criminal Defense
Description: Unsafe Operation of a Motorcycle (Yellowstone National Park- Federal Misdemeanor).
Outcome: Dismissed on 8-23-2023
State of Wyoming vs. J.R.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Domestic Battery.
Outcome: Dismissed on 1-10-2023
City of Cheyenne vs. M.G.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: DUI and Duty to Stop.
Outcome: DUI – Unsupervised Probation, Duty to Stop – Dismissed on 3-20-2023
State of Wyoming vs. I.S.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: DUI and No Insurance citation.
Outcome: DUI – Sentence Suspended, No Insurance- Dismissed on 6-5-2023
City of Cheyenne vs. R.T.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Appeal of Guilty Jury Verdict
Outcome: Reversed and Remanded for a new Trial on 9-28-2023
State of Wyoming vs. A.A.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Count I: Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, Count II: Possession of Marijuana- Felony, Count III: Possession of Marijuana- Felony.
Outcome: Count I and Count III Dismissed, Count II Deferred w/2 years’ probation on 5-18-2023
2022
City of Cheyenne vs. T.S.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: DUI- child passenger, Interfering/Obstruction, fail to maintain lane/unsafe lane change.
Outcome: 12 months’ Probation, all citations Dismissed on 6-29-2022
City of Cheyenne vs. A.C.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: DUI and Driving Wrong way on one-way street Citation.
Outcome: 12 months Unsupervised Probation/ Citation Dismissed on 5-3-2022
City of Cheyenne vs. J.J.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: DUI and Failure to Stay on Roadway Citation.
Outcome: 12 months Unsupervised Probation, Citation Dismissed on 12-21-2022
State of Wyoming vs. M.H.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Interfere with Peace Officer
Outcome: Dismissed on 7-6-2022
State of Wyoming vs. M.L.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Battery
Outcome: Dismissed on 7-10-2022
2021
State of Wyoming vs. C.A.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Speeding (Misdemeanor)
Outcome: Order of Dismissal on 1-15-2021
State of Wyoming vs. S.P.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Speeding and Careless Driving (Misdemeanors)
Outcome: Order of Dismissal on 1-21-2021
State of Wyoming vs. C.S.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Domestic Battery
Outcome: Order of Dismissal on 1-22-2021
State of Wyoming vs. A.D.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Speeding Citation
Outcome: Dismissed on 3-8-2021
State of Wyoming vs. P.S.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession of Marijuana
Outcome: Dismissed on 6-17-2021
State of Wyoming vs. J.B.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Drive Vehicle within Single Lane, Open Container moving vehicle, under 21 possession of Alcohol, Defraud Drug and Alcohol test, Possess Controlled Substance – 3 0z or less, DUI.
Outcome: Dismissed on 8-24-2021
State of Wyoming vs. N.C.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana (Felony)
Outcome: Dismissed on 9-16-2021
State of Wyoming vs. K.M.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Count I: Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), Count II: Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor)
Outcome: Count I: Dismissed, Count II: 12 months unsupervised probation on 2-3-2021
State of Wyoming vs. T.P.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession of Marijuana (Misdemeanor)
Outcome: Dismissed on 6-21-2021
State of Wyoming vs. C.N.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession of Marijuana (Misdemeanor), Speeding
Outcome: Possession of Marijuana- Dismissed, Speeding- Amended on 10-6-2021
State of Wyoming vs. L.N.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession of Controlled Substance- marijuana 3 oz or less (misdemeanor), Possession of Controlled Substance- Mushroom 3 oz or less (misdemeanor), minor in possession of alcohol (misdemeanor), minor in possession of nicotine (misdemeanor), speeding (misdemeanor)
Outcome: 6 months unsupervised probation for Possession of Controlled Substance-marijuana 3 oz or less, all other citations Dismissed on 10-15-2021
United States of America vs. M.C.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Appeal for Trespassing (misdemeanor) and Disorderly Conduct (misdemeanor) – Sentenced to 7 days in Jail
Outcome: Order Vacating Jail Sentence on 11-2-2021
State of Wyoming vs. J.P.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession of Controlled Substance (3 counts), Speeding.
Outcome: Order of Dismissal on 12-2-2021
2020
City of Cheyenne vs. M.S.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: DUI and Careless Driving
Outcome: DUI Dismissed, Careless Driving – fine on 5-14-2020
State of Wyoming vs. D.O.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Appeal of Speeding Conviction
Outcome: Order of Acquittal on 11-6-2020
State of Wyoming vs. D.P.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession of Marijuana (two- Misdemeanor)
Outcome: Order of Dismissal on 12-77-2020
State of Wyoming vs. S.A.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Possession of a Controlled Substance (x3-Misdemeanors)
Outcome: Order of Dismissal on 10-13-2020
State of Wyoming vs. N.M.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: Burglary (Felony), Theft (Misdemeanor)
Outcome: Order of Dismissal on 11-12-2020
2019:
State of Wyoming vs. N.V.
Practice Area: Criminal Defense
Description: DUI and Failure to Maintain Lane
Outcome: Dismissed on 3-19-2019