Alexis Manoguerra

Rather than deny that she’d etched a vulgar insult into a romantic rival’s vehicle, a 22-year-old Cody woman admitted to it in open court on Monday — then warned that things were going to get “worse” for the other woman.

Alexis Manoguerra was in Park County Circuit Court because her ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend were seeking a protection order; they said Manoguerra not only keyed the car with the word “whore,” but also sent them and others a series of harassing and threatening messages.

Park County prosecutors charged Manoguerra last week with a felony count of property destruction and misdemeanor counts of stalking in connection with the allegations.

Cody police arrested Manoguerra on those charges just before Monday’s protection order hearing, so she appeared via video from the Park County Detention Center.

At the outset of the civil proceeding, Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah warned Manoguerra that anything she said could be used against her in the criminal case.

“If you had an attorney, the attorney would probably tell you not to talk about what [happened] and respond to this,” Darrah said.

However, Manoguerra proceeded to make a series of profane and potentially self-incriminating comments.

“Do you want to be held in contempt of court?” Darrah asked after she apparently flipped off the camera.

“I don’t give a f— … but that’s a fat whore right there,” Manoguerra responded, apparently referring to her ex’s girlfriend.

Darrah then directed jail staff to mute Manoguerra’s microphone.

Weeks of alleged harassment

In an affidavit included in court documents, Cody Police Officer Clint Steward indicated that Manoguerra and her boyfriend broke up in January and that she took issue with his new girlfriend.

The officer said Manoguerra and the other woman exchanged “a lot of arguing and rude statements” in messages while Manoguerra made some vague threats.

At Monday’s hearing, the other woman said she initially “kind of played into it a little bit” and was “rage baiting” Manoguerra. However, she said she tried to end the argument after a day while Manoguerra continued to send threats.

“… she just kept telling me that I better watch my back everywhere I go,” the woman said.

Meanwhile, Manoguerra’s ex said she harassed him via calls and texts sent though unknown numbers. He also said Manoguerra parked across from his apartment for hours, and came to his workplace on two occasions.

“I’ve had to call the police multiple times so that they can get her to stop doing that, and they told me nothing can be done because it was a civil matter,” he said in court on Monday.

Then on Feb. 23, while police were still investigating, Manoguerra allegedly keyed the driver’s side doors of the other woman’s vehicle. It reportedly caused over $2,000 worth of damage. A couple hours later, police say she messaged the other woman’s mother on Facebook, saying in part, “Trust that as long as she is with him she is always going to have issues.”

In his affidavit, Officer Steward said it appeared Manoguerra was continuing to harass the other woman, “even after being told to stop doing so by several police officers” and was intending to harass the couple.

In her own interview with Cody police and in court on Monday, Manoguerra asserted that the couple had called her from anonymous numbers and lodged various accusations against her ex. For example, she alleged that her ex previously stuck the barrel of a gun in her mouth and used one to intimidate her the night they broke up.

However, Manoguerra didn’t have any corroborating evidence, her ex denied the allegations and Officer Steward said he believed they were “an attempt to turn my attention away from the possibility of her stalking and harassing [the couple].”

‘You’ve made my job really easy’

During the portions of Monday’s protection order hearing when she was unmuted, Manoguerra generally doubled down.

“She [the other woman] got what she asked for, in my book,” Manoguerra said, explicitly clarifying that she was talking about the keying of the car.

Manoguerra added that “this is only going to make the situation worse … because now my family is involved and my family’s on the way here. And I also do know now her [the other woman’s] address, because it was in the paperwork. So that’s not very smart.”

Judge Darrah later asked if there was anything else Manoguerra wanted him to consider before he rendered a decision.

“No, just f— them both and I hope they die,” she said.

“Well, you’ve made my job really easy, ma’am,” Darrah said. 

He barred Manoguerra from having any contact with her ex and his current girlfriend for the next three years; she’ll also be prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition while the protection orders are in place.

“Based on the conduct and the threats made by the respondent [Manoguerra] in this case, I don’t anticipate that this is going to subside unless there are some pretty strong protections placed,” Darrah said.

He added that he might find Manoguerra in contempt of court and would be referring the matter to the county attorney’s office.

Manoguerra appeared unphased, telling the other woman that, “I’ll see you when I see you.”

Darrah then cut her off for a final time.

“You’re just making it harder for yourself, ma’am,” he said.

‘I do apologize for that’

When Manoguerra reappeared in circuit court on Tuesday for her initial hearing on the criminal charges, Deputy Park County Prosecuting Attorney Marina Tucker asked that her bail be set at $25,000 cash.

Tucker said she’d reviewed the audio of Monday’s protection order hearing, heard “the various threats” from Manoguerra and came away concerned “about her willingness to comply with a court order, the safety of the victims [and] the safety of the public in general.”

For her part, Manoguerra called the situation “very toxic” and explained that she’d been arrested as she was preparing for Monday’s court hearing.

“Then I’m thrown in this room [in jail], facing my ex and his girlfriend, while they’re making remarks, whispering to each other, [so] I’m going to be upset a little bit,” Manoguerra said, “but I do apologize for that.”

Judge Darrah went with the prosecution’s $25,000 recommendation.

“I witnessed the threats yesterday in the protection order hearing and I do have a concern about public safety,” he said.

If Manoguerra posts the cash, she’ll be barred from possessing weapons and required to wear a location-tracking device and to stay in Park County and away from her ex and the other woman, among other conditions.

Manoguerra indicated she’s originally from California and intends to move back there at some point in the future.

A preliminary hearing in the criminal case is tentatively set for Tuesday.