Trooper Jay Gruwell Charged with Sexually Abusing 5-year-old

A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper has been charged with sexually abusing a child, according to documents released Wednesday by the Campbell County Attorney's Office.

The charges came after a 5-year-old girl alleged that Jay Gruwell made her touch his genitals, according to affidavit signed by a state agent.

The alleged abuse took place in May at a home in Gillette and the girl came forward shortly afterward, the document states. The affidavit indicates that Gruwell, who is stationed in Lusk, was off-duty at the time.

Gruwell, 54, did not respond to a message left Wednesday afternoon at a phone number listed for him in Lusk. He is charged with third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and faces up to 15 years behind bars if convicted.

In an interview with agents conducted four days after the allegations arose, he denied any wrongdoing. However, during a subsequent interview the same day, he said he remembered asking the girl if she wanted to touch him, authorities say.

Gruwell, who has been a trooper for 23 years, has been on administrative leave since May 20, said patrol administrator Col. Sam Powell.

Powell declined to comment on the allegations. He said Gruwell has an unblemished record with the patrol.

Gruwell is the second state trooper to face serious criminal allegations this year. Franklin Ryle Jr. pleaded guilty earlier this month to federal civil-rights charges in connection to an unlawful arrest he made as part of a scheme to kill a truck driver and stage a crash.

"I can certainly understand why people would be questioning certain things in the patrol of late," Powell said. "All I can do is reassure the people of Wyoming our selection process is solid. I would remind everyone, whether you are a police officer or not, that you are innocent until proven guilty."

Although the allegations against Gruwell date back two months, the Campbell County Attorney's Office could not acknowledge or discuss the case until Wednesday, after it was bound over to district court in Gillette. The office released Gruwell's charging document and a nine-page redacted affidavit signed by a special agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

According to that document, Gruwell was visiting a home in Gillette at the time the child made the allegations. One person, whose identity was blacked out in the affidavit, told investigators that Gruwell was in town to attend a graduation.

On the morning of the alleged incident, Gruwell went downstairs to check his e-mail. About an hour later, the child came upstairs and told someone that Gruwell had just made her look at his "privates."

The child made similar allegations to a forensic child interviewer, but in contrast to the earlier account, said Gruwell made her touch him.

In the affidavit, investigators indicate that someone else had reported a past incident where Gruwell exposed himself. Gruwell reportedly told the agents he couldn't recall anything like that happening.