* This story has details involving the sexual abuse of minors. Reader discretion is advised. * 

By Amanda Manchester
Uinta County Herald
Via- Wyoming News Exchange

EVANSTON — “It’s important to protect the community from you and to tell everyone in this community that you cannot sexually assault a child and walk away without serious consequences,” a judge told a Lyman man who was sentenced to 64-120 years behind bars for sexually abusing three Uinta County siblings. 

The abuse spanned from 2017- 2023 and occurred throughout the communities of Evanston, Lyman and Mountain View. 

Kyle Wallentine, 30, who was initially facing 15 charges — five for sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and 10 counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree — pleaded no contest to a total of eight second-degree charges. 

The victims were aged between 8-10 years old at the time Wallentine assaulted them. 

“Every single one that you’ve pled [guilty] to, you will pay for,” Third District Court Judge James Kaste said. “Those will run consecutively,” he said of the 8- to 15-year penalty per charge. 

The case began in March 2024 after the Evanston Police Department received a call from the mother of the victims who, according to an affidavit in support of arrest, “stated that … Wallentine had touched them inappropriately.” 

Wallentine, who was responsible for taking care of the children, frequently had the victims remove their clothing for a “full body massage,” which according to one of the victims included “butt, chest and genital areas,” and “between the legs.” 

Wallentine further began orchestrating situations involving close proximity to the children with little to no clothing, such as accompanying them in the bathroom during baths and showers or teaching them self-defense. The abuse eventually escalated to sodomy. 

Wallentine also insisted the children watch pornographic material with him. 

The mother of the victims addressed the court, saying, “He destroyed three lives. What he’s done, there’s no repairing it, regardless of time he serves.” 

“Thirty years is not long enough,” she said, referring to an initial plea offer of 15-31 years. 

“Your honor, please show mercy,” Wallentine said, while publicly apologizing to his victims and their mother. “I now understand what I did was both immoral and wrong.” 

“Truly, [there’s] nothing that could be done in order to repair the damage inflicted in their lives,” Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson Kallas said. “I’m asking the court to enter consecutive sentences. The nature of these offenses are some of the most terrible we see in these courts.” 

“A substantial portion of the sentence is for punishment, not rehabilitation,” Kallas said, citing specific deterrence by removing Wallentine from society for a substantial period of time. 

Highlighting not only the egregiousness and lifelong implications for the victims of Wallentine’s crimes, Kallas also noted the fact that he also absconded from the state, just after an initial interview with local law enforcement during the investigation. 

Once detained in Michigan, Wallentine fought extradition, which ultimately required a warrant from the office of Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. 

Due to these actions, Wallentine was considered a flight risk and has been incarcerated for the past year while awaiting judicial proceedings. 

He will receive 365 days credit for time served, and will pay a variety of court costs and fines. 

He has 30 days to appeal his sentence.

 “I’m infuriated by the harm you caused this family,” Kaste said. “That will last a lifetime — three lifetimes. I don’t know that I’ve seen more reprehensible conduct in my court. Sexually assaulting a child is about the worst thing I can think of. 

“Mr. Wallentine, it wasn’t a great day for you,” Kaste said during the conclusion of the Aug. 29 sentencing hearing. “You’re going to have a lot of ‘not great’ days in the future… This is the consequence of your choices.”

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