Winters receives lesser felony charges

Sentenced to probation and fines for property destruction, reckless endangering

Clifford Preston Winters of Burlington received a total four years of consecutive probation sentences and will pay restitution and fines stemming from charges related to a December 2024 incident where he allegedly rammed his truck into a vehicle containing three teenagers and brandished a firearm. 

Big Horn County District Court Judge Bobbi Overfield oversaw the sentencing on Sept. 30, with a plea agreement negotiated by Big Horn County Attorney Marcia Bean and defense lawyer Brigita Krisjansons. 

Winters pled no contest to one charge of reckless endangering, suspending a 180-day sentence with two days credit in Big Horn County Detention Center in favor of one year of supervised probation, as well as one charge of felony property destruction, for which a sentence of 2-5 years at the Wyoming Department of Corrections was suspended in favor of three years supervised probation. 

An additional fine of $3,000 for the felony charge, as well as $9,180.40 in restitution paid for victim hospital bills, was also agreed upon. Court fees and payment to the state victim compensation fund will be required. All fines, fees and restitution will be funded in part by Winters’ $5,000 posted bond, with the remainder to be paid within two weeks of the sentencing. 

The plea agreement eliminated violent felony charges initially brought upon Winters, including aggravated assault and battery and threatening with a drawn deadly weapon. 

According to an affidavit, Winters was arrested after Big Horn County Sheriff’s Deputy Seth Hoblit responded to a vehicle accident with multiple parties and injuries at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Burlington around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2024. 

There, it was determined that Winters had rammed his truck into a car holding Kyler Reeves, Hudson Heaton and Christian Myers, all between the ages 17 and 18 at the time, following an online dispute between them and his son Clifford T. Winters. Reeves, Heaton and Myers reported that they had earlier went to the Winters’ residence to fight Clifford T. Winters but retreated after hearing gun shots. They were then contacted by Clifford T. Winters and told to meet him at the church. When they arrived there, they were allegedly rammed by a truck and left their vehicle, approaching the truck, and were faced with the end of Clifford P. Winters’ gun. 

Deputies confiscated a Glock 43 pistol from Winters on scene, and he admitted to firing it on his property and approaching the teenagers with the gun in his hand. All three boys were sent to Powell Valley Healthcare following the incident. 

“I just want to apologize to the community, my family and the victims for my actions and decisions,” Clifford P. Winters said in his allocution on Sept. 30. “I was the adult, and I should have acted like one. I did not. And I take full responsibility for my actions and conduct. I was under the mistaken belief I was protecting my family… While my intent may have been misguided, it doesn’t excuse the harm that I caused. I deeply regret that I failed to act responsibly.”

He also thanked the state and court for the privilege of probation. Both Bean and Krisjansons reported they believed the agreement to be fair; with Winters holding no prior criminal history, being an active member of his community and holding a job with County Weed and Pest. Overfield agreed that he was a good candidate for probation. 

“I have no doubt that you will never hear from Mr. Winters again in this court or any other court,” Krisjansons said.