Former police chief strikes deal

Manderson’s former chief of police will have to spend a year on supervised probation and relinquish his Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification as part of a plea agreement that was negotiated with prosecutors.

Brandon “B.J.” Kidgell has agreed to plead no contest to two misdemeanors. Count one is for interference with a police officer and count four is for refusing to perform his duties in a criminal case, according to Big Horn County Attorney Marcia Bean. In exchange, all other charges against him would be dismissed.

The case against Kidgell stems from the October 2024 arrest of Dulcie Vanvoorhies of Manderson. At the time, Vanvoorhies advised deputies she knew of a prior police K9 search at her residence before it occurred. She and Kidgell, then the Manderson chief of police, were romantically involved at the time.

Count one carries an underlying sentenced of 180 days in jail, with 165 suspended and 15 remaining to serve. Kidgell agreed to one year of supervised probation and to pay a $500 fine, plus court costs and fees as well as $150 to the Wyoming Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund.

For count four, which is to run concurrently, Kidgell received a 90-day underlying jail sentence that will also be suspended in favor of six months supervised probation.  A $500 fine will be suspended pending completion of his probation.

“Apparently Mr. Kidgell has made some comments that he’d like to move to North Dakota,” Bean said. “If he does that, and provides proof that he’s done that, probation will be modified to unsupervised.

“The reason for that is because these charges are misdemeanors. We do not have an interstate compact agreement with North
Dakota so we cannot transfer supervised probation.”

Kidgell would also be required to stay away from Vanvoorhies and her husband as part of the deal.

If he does not live up to the terms of probation, Kidgell could face up to 180 days in jail.

Bean said she’s satisfied with the agreement. “I think it addresses what happened. He’s going to spend a few extra days in jail to I hope impress upon him the importance of what’s happened here.’

A circuit court judge in Basin will consider whether to accept the plea agreement on Monday, July 7, according to Big Horn County.