Albany County Jury Convicts Ricky Ayers on Sexual Assault, Burglary Charges

Ricky Ayers, 54, will remain in custody pending sentencing after an Albany County jury convicted him on four felony counts April 8 in Albany County District Court, including First-Degree Sexual Assault, which alone carries up to 50 years in Wyoming state prison.

The jury found Ayers guilty on all four counts: First-Degree Sexual Assault, Aggravated Burglary, Felonious Restraint and Domestic Battery. In plain terms, jurors determined beyond a reasonable doubt that Ayers broke into a residence, unlawfully confined the victim in a manner that exposed them to serious bodily harm, carried out a sexual assault, and inflicted domestic violence. Each is a separate felony finding under Wyoming law.

The sentencing exposure is substantial. Under Wyoming statute, First-Degree Sexual Assault carries 5 to 50 years; Aggravated Burglary carries 5 to 25 years; Felonious Restraint carries up to 5 years. At a sentencing hearing not yet scheduled as of April 12, the judge will weigh those statutory ranges against Ayers's criminal history and any victim impact statements submitted before the hearing.

His $80,000 bond was revoked when the verdict was read and Ayers was taken into custody on the spot.

The arrest itself, on the morning of July 11, 2025, required a coordinated multi-agency operation in northern Albany County near Hubbard's Cupboard. The Albany County Sheriff's Office, working alongside the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Platte County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Cheyenne Police Department, served the high-risk felony warrant that day. Despite Ayers being classified as potentially armed and dangerous, the operation concluded without incident.

Anyone affected by sexual assault or domestic violence can reach the Albany County SAFE Project at 307-742-7273 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. The Albany County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line is 307-721-2526.