Wyoming Supreme Court to review life sentence

December 15, 2011

Wyoming: On Thursday, December 15, the Wyoming Supreme Court heard arguments from Kirk Morgan, a lawyer representing 18-year-old Wyatt Bear Cloud. Morgan is arguing that the life sentence imposed on his client is exceptionally cruel and therefore unconstitutional. Bear Cloud was one of three teens convicted of killing businessman Robert Ernst after entering his home with a pistol in August 2009. Bear Cloud was 16 at the time of the murder and was reportedly not the one who fired the gun. Last year, District Judge John G. Fenn refused Bear Cloud’s attempt to change his guilty plea and sentenced him to life in prison. Morgan pleaded with the court saying, "How do you decide that someone should be incarcerated forever when they’re 15, 16 years old?" The court will consider the issue and deliver a written decision later.