Unsafe Hunting Charges Against Nina Webber Dismissed with Prejudice
Written by Andrew-Rossi on May 18, 2023
Wyoming Republican Party national committeewoman and former Wyoming House of Representatives candidate Nina Webber has had her day in court. And it went just about as well as she could hope for.
On Wednesday, May 17, Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric dismissed the misdemeanor charges of reckless endangering while hunting with prejudice. This means the case will never be reopened, and Webber will never face charges related to the incident again.
The charges stemmed from an unsafe hunting incident that occurred near Wapiti on the 3600 block of the North Fork Highway in the early morning hours of November 30th, 2022. The Park County Sheriff’s Office classified the incident as a “weapons offense” when residents of the Trout Creek Ranch reported bullets being fired in their direction from a nearby group hunting elk.
During the hearing, Skoric said he had “an ethical obligation to dismiss” due to a lack of evidence presented against Webber. Conversely, he was showed “very credible evidence” from Webber’s attorney Tim Blatt that, even if there were shots irresponsibly fired that day, they were most likely not fired by Webber.
Courtesy Scott Weber
Nobody has more to say about the dismissal with prejudice than Webber herself. In a Facebook post addressed to “Media outlets,” Webber finally unburdened herself and spoke openly about the case for the first time.
“Until now I have been advised by counsel not to comment on a citation that I received in December of 2022 for alleged “reckless endangerment,” Webber wrote. “Now that this charge has been dismissed with prejudice, I would like to make some statements about the truth of the matter.”
Webber said the incident stems from “an overzealous young deputy who submitted an incomplete investigation coupled with an outgoing sheriff who opposed my political views as a conservative Republican.” She believed the fact she was the only person cited out of ten people in the hunting group means it’s been “open season on conservative Republicans,” and she was the target of “a political hit job.”
Now, Webber indicates she’s on the offensive.
“Right now, I am in consultation with an attorney regarding civil action.” she wrote. However, she did not specify who she would be pursuing action against.
Webber’s full and unaltered statement is published below:
TO: Media outlets
FROM: Nina Webber, Cody
RE: Today’s dismissal with prejudice by the Park County Prosecutor Bryan Skoric and signed by Circuit Court Judge Joseph Darrah of a “reckless endangerment” citation issued December 2022
Until now I have been advised by counsel not to comment on a citation that I received in December of 2022 for alleged “reckless endangerment”. Now that this charge has been dismissed with prejudice, I would like to make some statements about the truth of the matter. See below:
“The truth has finally come out about my routine elk hunt that occurred on November 30, 2022 on the North Fork in Hunt Area 53 and that case was dismissed today by the Park County Prosecutor Bryan Skoric and signed by Circuit Court Judge Joseph Darrah.”
“To this day, there exists no evidence of any ‘whistling bullets’.”
“The North Fork game warden witnessed the morning’s hunt and he indicated there was no wrong doing.”
“Of the ten persons in that hunt area that day on November 30, I was the only one selected for a citation from the Sheriff’s Office despite the fact that I had fired 45 minutes after the initial complaints and no complaints were associated with my shots.”
“Due to an overzealous young deputy who submitted an incomplete investigation coupled with an outgoing sheriff who opposed my political views as a conservative Republican, I was the only one cited.”
“As you know, it’s been ‘open season’ on conservative Republicans, and I was the victim of a political ‘hit job’ by virtue of being the Republican National Committeewoman for Wyoming. These types of lawfare tactics are designed to hurt and damage my reputation and credibility as an elected official.”
“I am an American citizen and an avid sportswoman and I believe my position as Republican National Committeewoman for Wyoming and previous and potential candidate for House District 24 caused me to be singled out by law enforcement.”
“Right now I am in consultation with an attorney regarding civil action.”
“I was very pleased with Park County Prosecutor Bryan Skoric and Circuit Court Judge Joseph Darrah’s motion to dismiss with prejudice which means the charge can never be revisited. I thank everyone who stood by me while I fought these false allegations.”
