Statute of Limitations for Class D / 4th Degree Felony in Wyoming

Overview

In Wyoming, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for the state to file charges for a criminal offense. For a Class D / 4th degree felony, the governing rule is generally a 4-year limitations period under Wyoming’s general SOL statute for criminal actions.

This page focuses on the clock: when it starts, how long it runs (in most cases), and where real-world exceptions can change the outcome. It also shows how to use DocketMath’s /tools/statute-of-limitations calculator to turn those rules into a computed deadline based on your specific dates.

Limitation period

For a Class D / 4th degree felony in Wyoming, the SOL period is typically:

• 4 years from the relevant triggering date set by Wyoming SOL law.

What the SOL period means in practice

If the applicable 4-year rule applies, the state must bring the case within that window. If the deadline passes, the defendant can typically raise the SOL as a defense—though the exact procedural posture (and any exception) will determine whether the defense actually succeeds.

How the “triggering date” affects the end date

A common practical error is using the wrong start date. Depending on the underlying facts and the nature of the offense, the “clock” can be tied to things like:

• the date the conduct occurred,
• the date the offense was discovered (in some contexts),
• or other statutorily defined event triggers.

Wyoming’s general SOL statute uses a framework that can include exceptions. That’s why the calculator is useful: it gives you a repeatable way to plug in the date you’re working from and then apply Wyoming’s statutory period.

Key exceptions

The 4-year period is the baseline, but Wyoming law includes exceptions that can extend the deadline. For a Class D / 4th degree felony, the key point is that you should not assume “4 years” automatically means the case is time-barred or timely without checking the exception structure.

Below are the Wyoming exception markers reflected for the 4-year rule in the provided jurisdiction data:

• Exception M1 — tied to Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
• Exception M3 — tied to Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105
• Exception N1 — tied to Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-101
• Exception P1 — additional 4-year marker in the dataset

How to think about exceptions (without guessing)

Exceptions usually operate in one of two ways:

1. They extend the SOL deadline (so the state has more time).
2. They alter how the “start date” is determined (so the 4-year clock may begin later than you assume).

That’s why you should treat your timeline inputs as case-specific and verify which exception category, if any, could apply based on the offense facts.

Practical checklist for exception review

Use this checklist to reduce the risk of applying the wrong SOL window:

Statute citation

The controlling Wyoming statute for the baseline 4-year SOL framework is:

• Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) — 4 years (exception marker shown as M1)

Additional Wyoming SOL context for the same 4-year structure:

• Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105 — 4 years (exception marker shown as M3)

And the dataset also flags a related 4-year exception framework:

• Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-101 — 4 years (exception marker shown as N1)

Finally, the provided jurisdiction data includes:

• A 4-year exception marker P1 (listed in the dataset as relevant to this SOL timeframe).

All citations above align with Wyoming statutory references available through the Wyoming Legislature website (https://www.wyoleg.gov/).

Use the calculator

Turn the Wyoming 4-year rule into a computed SOL deadline using DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool:

• Start at: /tools/statute-of-limitations

Suggested calculator inputs

To get a reliable output, you’ll typically provide:

• the SOL start date (the date you’re using as the triggering event),
• the jurisdiction (US-WY),
• the offense category (Class D / 4th degree felony / felony classification input as supported by the tool),
• and whether you are applying any exception concept (if the tool asks for it).

Because exceptions can extend or adjust the SOL timeline, the calculator outcome should change if you toggle an exception option (or, if the tool requires selecting a rule path, if you choose the exception path rather than the baseline rule).

How outputs may change based on your inputs

Here are concrete ways the result changes:

Quick example (illustrative only)

If your calculator uses a 4-year SOL period and your SOL start date is 2022-01-15, then under the baseline rule your deadline would land in 2026 (same day-of-month/day logic depending on the tool’s implementation). If you then apply an exception path and the tool extends time, the new deadline moves later.

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — How to choose the right calculator
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — How to choose the right calculator