Cook pleads not guilty to one felony theft charge

Samantha Cook of Greybull pleaded not guilty to one count of felony theft at her arraignment in Big Horn County District Court on Tuesday, July 7. Three other charges; two counts of felony exploitation of a vulnerable adult and one additional count of felony theft, were dismissed without prejudice. Big Horn County Attorney Marcia Bean explained in a statement to the Standard that they may be refiled. 

Cook was arrested on April 8 following a Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office investigation that began in October 2025. Previously, Greybull Police Department and Department of Family Services had looked into the case in March 2025 after receiving reports that Cook was stealing from her elderly parents. According to the initial affidavit filed April 8, Cook allegedly spent over $154,000 from her parents’ accounts without their permission, failing to repay $101,400. 

The four initial charges would have constituted up to a combined 40 years in prison, $40,000 fine or both. The single felony charge entered last week accounts for a quarter of that, up to 10 years, $10,000 or both. A pre-trial conference, jury trial, or change of plea had yet to be filed as of last week.