Colorado Man Pleads Guilty To Wyoming Wildfire Burglaries

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - A 35-year-old Colorado man has pleaded guilty to burglarizing homes evacuated during a wildfire in southern Wyoming. The Laramie Boomerang reports that Jayce Peterson pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges on Friday before District Judge Tori Kricken in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped an aggravated burglary charge. However, the agreement did not recommend a prison sentence to Kricken.

Peterson remains free on bond pending his sentencing.

Rural subdivisions at Woods Landing and Jelm Mountain were evacuated last June during a nearby forest fire.

When some residents returned to their homes, they found missing items, including firearms, jewelry and an ATV.

Authorities began investigating Peterson when they learned he had pawned one of the stolen firearms in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Colorado Wildfire section.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile), the deadliest (Storm King) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.

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