Casper Man Denies Sexual Abuse of Step-Child Over 18 Years Ago
A Casper man accused of sexually abusing a young girl over 18 years ago entered not guilty pleas to six felony charges Wednesday morning in Natrona County District Court.
Bruce R. Sloyer, 61, is charged with two counts of sexual assault in the second degree, two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor and two counts of incest. He could face four to 70 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, one of Sloyer's neighbors made a report to the Casper Police Department on Sept. 13. The neighbor told police that they had been speaking with Sloyer when Sloyer's wife made a comment that the neighbor should be careful about having Sloyer around the neighbor's daughter, as Sloyer was a sex offender.
Later that day, Sloyer drove himself to the police station and explained that his wife had accused him of being a sex offender because he did "some things" roughly two decades prior, and he should have faced criminal charges. Sloyer explained that he had sexually abused a young girl several times but did not tell anyone about what he did.
An investigator with the Natrona County Sheriff's Office located an investigative report regarding Sloyer that had been written in 2000. Per the report, the Wyoming Department of Family Services had learned on Feb. 23, 2000 that the alleged victim had disclosed sexual abuse by Sloyer. The victim was 13 years old at the time of the disclosure.
In an interview on Sept. 14, 2018, the sheriff's office investigator interviewed the victim. The victim said that she had been 11 years old when Sloyer first touched her inappropriately on her back and upper thigh.
The victim went on to detail two other incidents that did involve sexual touching around Christmas time of 1999 and Valentine's Day in 2000. She added that there had been numerous other times during her childhood when Sloyer touched her or rubbed her in ways that made her uncomfortable.
The victim also said that Sloyer often complimented her or gave her special items like cookies when she was in trouble with her mother. She believed Sloyer's "niceness" was a way of building his relationship with her; a ploy to allow him to sexually abuse her.
Sloyer was arrested on Sept. 14, 2018. He admitted having lied to law enforcement during the 2000 investigation because he was scared. He allegedly admitted during the interview that he sexually abused the victim.
Sloyer remained free on bond at the time of Wednesday's arraignment hearing.