Agreement reached — Hadlock pleads guilty to misdemeanor
Former Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in the criminal case tied to alleged election misconduct following the 2024 general election. The agreement is yet to be accepted by the judge, but a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 27 was canceled following the plea filing.
Court documents filed May 26 in Weston County Circuit Court show the state agreed to amend the felony charge of violation of election code by an official to a misdemeanor charge of “violation of election code” under Wyoming Statute 22-26-120. In exchange for Hadlock’s guilty plea to the amended misdemeanor charge, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the second count alleging falsifying election documents, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
According to the plea agreement, the parties jointly recommended a sentence consisting of a $500 fine, $150 to the Wyoming Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund and $70 in court costs. The agreement further states that no jail time or probation would be imposed.
The agreement notes that the court is not required to accept the proposed disposition and that Hadlock retains the right to withdraw her plea if the court rejects the agreement.
In a signed plea document, Hadlock acknowledged that she knowingly failed to discharge a duty required by election law related to completing an accurate post-election audit following the November 2024 general election.
“I admit that I was required to discharge the specific duty of completing an accurate post-election audit by Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, following the general election in 2024 to certify an accurate vote and I knowingly failed to discharge this duty,” the filing states.
The filing further states that the conduct occurred between Nov. 5 and Nov. 7, 2024, in Weston County.
An order filed May 26 granted an unopposed motion allowing the plea agreement and related filings to be submitted in writing and vacated the preliminary hearing previously scheduled for May 27.
The criminal case originally stemmed from allegations tied to Weston County’s handling of the 2024 General Election, including ballot formatting issues, audit discrepancies and documentation submitted to the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office.
As previously reported, Hadlock was arrested April 8 and originally charged with one felony count of violation of election code by an official and one felony count of falsifying election documents.
The civil case seeking Hadlock’s removal from office was later closed after she resigned as county clerk in April.