Cheyenne Man Faces New Charges Amid Ongoing Child Sex Abuse Case

A 55-year-old Cheyenne man out on bond in a child sex abuse case is now facing child pornography charges.

According to police spokeswoman Alex Farkas, Brian Whrel was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 16, and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center on nine counts
of possession of child pornography.

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Timeline of Events

On May 20, police became aware of allegations of sexual abuse of minor children by Whrel, a local fifth-grade teacher.

"He was subsequently arrested on July 28, for nine counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and seven counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor," said Farkas.

"Wrhel pleaded not guilty to the charges in Laramie County District Court and has been released on bond since August 8," she added.

Farkas says as part of that investigation, a cell phone belonging to Wrhel was seized upon his arrest.

"On September 4, a detective applied for and was granted a search warrant to conduct a digital forensic examination of the phone," said Farkas.

"The download recovered child sexual abuse material," she added. "It appears that this material originated outside of the country."

Farkas says the case remains under investigation by the Detective Bureau.