Israel Silva

In June 2023, Israel Silva admitted that he’d violated the terms of his probation for a string of property crimes, but pleaded to be released from jail while awaiting sentencing. Silva explained that he needed to take care of his ailing mother, and Park County District Court Judge Bill Simpson was swayed enough to let the Lovell resident out on bond.

However, just nine days later, Silva cut off his GPS ankle monitor and went to Mexico. The 35-year-old remained at large for over a year, being arrested in Lovell last fall.

When Silva reappeared before Simpson in November, he again asked to be released to help care for his mother, telling the court he’d gone to Mexico to help his ill father and then was kidnapped. This time around, Simpson set bail at $250,000 — five times what the prosecution requested.

Silva remained in custody and returned to court on Monday for sentencing. In a lengthy statement, he apologized for his actions and asked for a final chance on probation; Silva told the court that he was finally serious about getting treatment for substance abuse and mental health.

Simpson, however, sided with prosecutors and ordered Silva to return to prison for a six- to eight-year term.

“I’m here to try to be fair, ... to try to show mercy and compassion when necessary, but I’m also here to try to sentence people when enough is enough,” the judge said. “And enough is enough.”

Stolen trucks, fired shots and a chase

The underlying crimes occurred on a night and early morning in August 2014.

According to the Tribune’s prior reporting, Silva stole a truck in Big Horn County and drove it to Powell, where he crashed into a light pole. He abandoned that vehicle, then broke into and stole another truck nearby. He helped himself to a gun inside and used it to shoot two parked vehicles as he drove through town.

When Powell police officers later tried to stop Silva in the stolen Chevy, he led them on a lengthy chase at speeds that reached 110 mph. It ended when Silva ran over some irrigation pipe and got stuck in a field in the Heart Mountain area. Subsequent testing showed he’d been driving drunk.

In early 2015, Silva pleaded guilty to felony counts of aggravated burglary and property destruction, along with some misdemeanors. He accepted a six- to 10-year prison sentence with another prison term suspended in favor of five years of supervised probation.

The case drew widespread attention because then-District Court Judge Steven Cranfill agreed to perform a brief wedding ceremony for Silva immediately before his sentencing. The hastily arranged ceremony was unorthodox, with Silva dressed in an orange jumpsuit and the victims of his crimes among those in the audience.

Silva’s wife filed for divorce in 2016, while he was still incarcerated.

Continued trouble

Silva eventually completed his sentence for aggravated burglary, though court testimony indicates there were problems. Court testimony indicated he failed to complete treatment programs in and out of custody, tested positive for drugs and missed appointments.

He also ran into trouble while serving the subsequent probation on the property destruction charge. In May 2023 alone, court records say Silva tested positive for meth, failed to follow treatment recommendations and missed a drug test and appointments.

Silva was arrested that June, admitted to the violations and was then released on his own recognizance. On Monday, Judge Simpson recalled the defendant’s pleas and promises to follow the court’s orders.

Instead, “you did exactly the opposite,” Simpson said. “You continued to do what you’ve done for the last 10 years.”

Silva took responsibility for cutting his ankle monitor and going to Mexico during Monday’s hearing, reiterating that he left to help his cancer-stricken father. Silva has also said he was kidnapped, beaten and taken hostage by a criminal organization while there.

In a statement to his probation agent, “you described some horrific situations where apparently an individual was shot and executed in your presence, but due to some miraculous set of circumstances and intervention, you were released and allowed to then work on an individual’s farm or ranch before you decided that you wanted to come back to Wyoming to help your mother,” Simpson recounted.

Silva said in one letter to the court that he will never go back to Mexico.

‘Do the right thing’

On Monday, he apologized to everyone involved in the case, and especially his family. He said he was ready to make a change.

Silva said treatment he’s received while jailed has helped with his anxiety and PTSD. He also said that, after resenting drug treatment in the past, he was committed to completing an inpatient program and Park County drug court.

“I take full accountability and responsibility for my actions. It’s time for me to be a man,” Silva said. “I feel like I can do this. It’s never too late to grow up and honor myself and my family and demonstrate I can be a positive member in the community.”

His mother told the court she’s seen a big difference in her son since his November arrest and that rehab is what he really needs.

However, the prosecution and Silva’s probation agent recommended prison time.

“It is the stance of the [Department of Corrections] that we have basically reached max benefit and done all we can to help Mr. Silva stay compliant, sober, a respectable member of the community,” said agent Ethan Landers, referencing Silva’s “continued and consistent” probation violations.

Deputy Park County Prosecuting Attorney Laura Newton made similar arguments. She also noted that Silva still owes over $35,000 to the victims of the 2014 crimes in Powell.

In imposing the six- to eight-year sentence, Simpson noted that Silva had already received “numerous” chances at treatment and rehabilitation. Going forward, he encouraged Silva to “do the right thing, abide by what you’ve told me in the past, but this time, say it and mean it and do it.”

“I really don’t have much to say, except for, you’re right,” Silva later responded. “It is my responsibility to complete what it is that I said I’m going to do.”

Simpson said he found the comments encouraging and suggested he’d consider reducing the sentence if Silva does well.

“It’s in your hands now, Mr. Silva,” he said.