Wyoming Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Against Highway Patrol Trooper

A man from Saratoga, Wyoming has pleaded guilty to shooting at a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper during an incident at the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

39 year old Wyatt James Fluty entered guilty pleas to one count of Attempted First Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement officer and one count of Commission of a Felony While Armed with a Firearm. The remaining four charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

He faces a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison when he’s sentenced on July 17th in Meade County Circuit Court.

The incident occurred on Aug. 9, 2023 after law enforcement reported Fluty was believed to have stolen a vehicle from Rawlings, Wyoming and was in possession of stolen firearms.

When a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper attempted to take Fluty into custody, the defendant tried to flee and fired two shots at the trooper. The trooper returned fire. Fluty then attempted to steal the trooper’s patrol vehicle.

Fluty was taken into custody by the trooper and an off-deputy Minnesota deputy sheriff. Fluty sustained minor injuries. The two law enforcement officers were not injured.