Wyoming Supreme Court Disbars Former GOP Legislator, Prosecutor

The Wyoming Supreme Court on Thursday disbarred a former state representative and former Park County deputy prosecutor.

The high court had suspended Samuel Krone's license to practice law on Aug. 25, 2016, after he was charged with seven felony and misdemeanor counts for stealing $9,633.71 from the Park County Bar Association when he was its treasurer.

The disbarment is effective as of the suspension date, according to the opinion written by Chief Justice E. James Burke.

In October 2017, Krone pleaded guilty to a felony count and one misdemeanor count related to the theft.

He was sentenced to three years supervised probation for the felony count, and sentenced to 180 days in jail with 165 days suspended and six months of probation to run concurrently with the probation ordered on the felony count. He also was ordered to pay court fees and restitution for the stolen money, according to the order. The other felony counts were dismissed.

On May 18, the Board of Professional Responsibility for the Wyoming State Bar recommended Krone be disbarred.

The Wyoming Supreme Court's opinion said Krone's misconduct falls under the category of the violation of duties owed to the public and specifically "failure to maintain personal integrity."

The order said Krone acted intentionally in committing the crime, and caused injury to the legal profession.

Specifically, the court and Krone said these were the aggravating factors: a dishonest or selfish motive, a pattern of misconduct, multiple offenses, substantial experience in the practice of law, and illegal conduct.

They also said these were mitigating factors: absence of a prior disciplinary record, a timely good faith effort to make restitution, full disclosure to the bar and a cooperative attitude during the disciplinary proceedings, the imposition of other penalties, and remorse.

Krone will be eligible to petition for reinstatement as a lawyer five years after the effective date of his suspension.

From 2011 to 2016, he represented House District 24, which includes western Park County and Cody. He lost the Republican primary to challenger Scott Court in August 2016.