Former Cheyenne teacher sentenced to 27–30 years’ prison for sexual abuse of 3 students – Cap City News

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A former Cheyenne school teacher who pleaded guilty last month to sexually abusing three of his fifth-grade students will serve 27–30 years behind bars, the Cheyenne Police Department announced Wednesday.
Brian Wrhel, now 56, was charged last July after an investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department. In May 2025, a paraeducator stationed in Wrhel’s room brought concerns of abuse to the attention of Meadowlark Elementary’s principal, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.
More about the details of the case, including the nature of the abuse, is available here.
On July 28, 2025, Wrhel was charged with 16 felony counts for reported conduct with four separate girls. An investigation into his cellphone resulted in new charges related to child sexual abuse materials. The term “child pornography” has been largely abandoned by prosecutors and advocates because it implies consent to sexual conduct that a child cannot give.
Records from the First Judicial District in Laramie County show that the child sexual abuse materials case was dismissed in exchange for his pleas in district court to three felony counts of child sexual abuse on April 8, 2026.
Wrhel’s attorney, Thomas Fleener, told the court Wrhel had been “insisting on wanting to plead guilty” to “what he could” in the interest of moving on to rehabilitation, according to the transcript made accessible earlier in June 2026. 
The agreement included guilty pleas to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor for two 10-year-old victims, each count punishable by up to 20 years in prison.  Wrhel also pleaded no contest to immodest, immoral or indecent liberties with another girl. The third-degree charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
An agreement between state prosecutor Steve McManamon and Wrhel was made for the state to only seek out between 18 and 21 years, but Judge Catherine Rodgers told him in court that she could reject the agreement, sentence him to the maximum amount — 55 years — and he could not rescind his plea. He said that he understood.
Ultimately, he was sentenced to more than the negotiated amount and will spend between 27 and 30 years behind bars. Each count constitutes nine to 10 years of that sentence.
Oil City News Crime/Courts Reporter More by Greg Hirst
Community Reporter More by Garrett Grochowski

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