Newspaper apologizes after reporter's sexual assault case

CHEYENNE (AP) — A Wyoming newspaper has apologized for not taking action sooner against a reporter who pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle in Cheyenne said Thursday Sisco Molina, formerly of Worland, no longer works for the newspaper but didn’t say when he left or whether he resigned or was fired.

Molina covered high school sports. He was charged with third-degree sexual assault in Laramie in May for having unwanted sexual contact with a female friend after a night of heavy drinking.. He pleaded guilty in July to the felony and was sentenced to three years probation this month with an underlying prison sentence of eight to 10 years.

The newspaper said it should have removed Molina from his beat after he was charged and should have fired him immediately after sentencing. The newspaper said managers delayed because they wanted to support a good employee and to consider all their options.

No phone listing could be found for Molina. He told the Casper Star-Tribune he was sorry for what he had done.