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A prominent Wapiti resident who stands accused of recklessly firing a rifle during a November elk hunt has formally denied the allegation.
Through her attorney, Nina Webber pleaded not guilty to a …
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A prominent Wapiti resident who stands accused of recklessly firing a rifle during a November elk hunt has formally denied the allegation.
Through her attorney, Nina Webber pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment during a Friday appearance in Park County Circuit Court.
The charge stems from a Nov. 30 incident, in which witnesses and authorities allege errant bullets whizzed over the heads of two residents near the North Fork Highway. A group of people had been hunting elk that morning, but then-Park County Sheriff Scott Steward said evidence at the scene indicated Webber was the only person in position to fire the bullets in question.
For her part, Webber has said the allegations against her are false. During Friday’s hearing, her defense attorney, Tim Blatt, mentioned that “these are allegations at this point — allegations that we intend to refute and ask for a trial on.”
Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah tentatively set the case for a June 1 trial.
While she awaits further proceedings, Webber will remain free on her own recognizance. In addition to standard bond conditions like obeying the law, Judge Darrah is requiring Webber to put all of her rifles in a gun safe and leave them there while the case is pending.
Deputy Park County Attorney Jack Hatfield had initially asked that Webber be prohibited from possessing any firearms until the matter is resolved. He cited public safety concerns, noting the allegations that Webber fired toward the highway and over a person’s head.
Additionally, when a sheriff’s deputy approached Webber at the scene, “her lack of firearm safety was evident,” Hatfield said. Specifically, the prosecutor said Webber at one point “flagged” deputy Clayton Creel — that is, pointed the barrel of her gun at him — which made the deputy nervous.
Blatt, however, objected to Webber being stripped of her firearms. The attorney noted his client is contesting the allegations and that she’s hunted for a long time, carries a firearm for protection and has handled firearms throughout her life.
As a compromise, Hatfield suggested that Webber only be prohibited from possessing rifles, acknowledging this is the only time she’s been accused of mishandling firearms.
Judge Darrah agreed with that proposal, telling Webber she needed to find someone else to hold onto her centerfire rifles during the pendency of the case, but could keep her other guns.
“I’m concerned about the rifles. I’m not concerned about [the others] under the circumstances,” Darrah said.
Blatt then asked if Webber could securely store the centerfire rifles in a gun safe instead of having to remove the “significant number” of rifles from her home. After Hatfield expressed no objections, Darrah agreed to the modification.
Webber is best known for her political activity. She previously served as the Hot Springs County Clerk in Thermopolis, ran unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives in Park County in 2020 and 2022 and is currently the national committeewoman for the Wyoming Republican Party.
About a dozen people attended the hearing in apparent support of Webber, including several members of the Park County Republican Party’s executive and central committees.
