A federal judge said he won't intervene in the murder case of an Arapaho man until a state jurisdiction issue is settled in the Wyoming courts.

Andrew Yellowbear Jr. was convicted of murdering his 22-month-old daughter in Riverton. But he contends the state had no right to prosecute him because Riverton is Indian Country.

The state disagrees and says the Wind River Reservation was diminished in 1905. Riverton is part of the former reservation, according to the state.

Yellowbear has appealed his conviction to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The Northern Arapaho Tribe is supporting him on the issue of state jurisdiction. If he succeeds, he would face prosecution by the federal government.

Get the Story:
Judge turns down Yellowbear's request to overturn conviction (The Casper Star-Tribune 6/15)

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