Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Public Land Offenses

Robert Sherman, 55, of Holladay, Utah, was sentenced on July 23, for two separate cases of disorderly conduct. In the first case he was sentenced to 14 days of incarceration, with credit for the 14 days already served for making threatening statements in the Roosevelt employee dining room inside Yellowstone National Park (YNP). According to court document, on July 5, Sherman was heard by multiple witnesses saying, “the next mass shooting will occur here.” Sherman made this statement just one day after gunman Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner was shot and killed by U.S. Park Rangers after he attempted to shoot at people inside the Canyon Lodge employee dining room.

In the second disorderly conduct charge, Sherman was sentenced to five years of unsupervised probation for making additional threatening statements. According to court documents, on July 7, witnesses said Sherman made several comments along the lines that he would be, “killing people around here.” As part of the terms of his probation, he will have to comply with all federal, state, and local laws; keep contact information current with the court; pay court costs as ordered by the court; and not be permitted to enter YNP during the probation term. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on July 23. This crime was investigated by the National Park Service and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes.

Child Pornography

Alan Dean Houghton, 63, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison with 15 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography, subsequent offense. According to court documents, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) initiated a sexual exploitation of children investigation in October 2022. Heather Clark and April Burns were subsequently arrested in May of 2023 for production of child pornography, amongst other charges. Forensic analysis of Clark’s phone revealed that she was selling child pornography to various men around the country. The defendant was identified as having paid Clark $4,700 in multiple payments, over months, for what is believed to be Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) that Clark produced of her children. Houghton was indicted on March 13 and pleaded guilty on April 24. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on July 22. This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.

Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Brian Reyes Rhodes, Jr., 24, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment with 15 years of supervised release for sexual abuse of a minor. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on July 22. According to court documents, between November 2018 and June 2022, the defendant sexually abused a minor multiple times at his grandfather’s residence. The minor victim eventually disclosed the abuse to a medical provider. Rhodes was indicted in November 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 17. This crime was investigated by the FBI, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook.

About the United States Attorney’s Office

The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:

Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.

Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.

Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.

To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking