There are people who hunt animals ethically, and then there are people like Cody Roberts who was recently charged with felony animal cruelty following his capture and torment of a gray wolf last February. This week, Sublette County law enforcement officials announced that a grand jury consisting of 12 people selected by the 9th District Court, received enough evidence and deliberation to “return a ‘true bill’ resulting in the indictment against Roberts,” according to WyoFile.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) officials investigated the original incident, noting that wolves weren’t protected by animal cruelty laws in areas where they’re deemed predators. The agency fined Roberts $250 for possessing the animal. The light penalty sparked widespread outrage, which escalated globally after Roberts’s stunt with the injured wolf went viral, with photos of him and the wounded animal circulating across the internet.

Sublette County Prosecuting Attorney Clayton Melinkovich vocalized his distaste for the lenient punishment given to Roberts, stating, “While many of the animal abuse provisions do not apply to the hunting, capture, killing, or destruction of a predatory animal, there are narrow circumstances where a person could be charged and convicted of animal abuse.”

And, now, a grand jury agrees with Melinkovich, charging Roberts with felony animal cruelty that could place him in prison for up to two years and be required to pay a fine of up to $5,000.

News of the charges gained positive reactions from those who felt Roberts should be held more accountable. He currently awaits a court date.

“Today’s indictment is a step toward recognizing that all predators deserve protection from cruelty — not just pets,” the Mountain Lion Foundation wrote in a Facebook post. “Thank you to everyone who demanded justice. Your voices mattered.”

WGFD did not comment on the case.

What do you think? Does Roberts deserve a harsher punishment? How did his actions impact views of hunting?