WORLAND – Joseph A. Leyva, 29, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday for supplying Robert C. Kulze, 30, with a fatal dose of heroin Sept. 2, 2016. The plea agreement was struck ahead of a scheduled May 14 jury trial.

Leyva set a factual basis during his change of plea hearing Thursday morning in front of District Court Judge Robert E. Skar, admitting to providing Kulze with heroin at his home on 501 Howell Ave. Later, he and two others moved Kulze’s body to his nearby residence at 504 Obie Sue Ave and staged the scene to appear that he died in his own home.

As part of the deal, Leyva received a four- to six-year sentence to be served as a split-sentence, meaning he will serve one year of jail, and his additional time will be converted to supervised probation. This sentence will run consecutive to a seven-year prison sentence and five years of supervised probation he has already received in connection with a plea agreement in a federal trafficking charge that claimed he was transporting heroin across state lines from Utah. Those charges came to light during the investigation of the manslaughter case.

In all, Leyva will serve eight years behind bars and eight years of supervised probation. If he fails during his

supervised probation period, he could serve the remainder of his four- to six-year sentence on the manslaughter charge.

Washakie County Attorney John Worrall addressed the court, pointing out both the Leyva and Kulze family members in attendance and saying everyone present were there because their life has been impacted by drugs. Joseph Leyva had stated before that he was dealing heroin in order to supply his own addiction.

After the hearing, Worrall said, “This case was a tough one. It really shined a light on our own community’s drug problems. There were many interviews conducted by law enforcement and additional charges stretching from Worland to Utah. We may never know how much heroin we were able to keep from flowing into our county as a result of this case.”

Worrall also stated that the biggest loss will be for Kulze’s 12-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter who will grow up without their father. “By all accounts, Rob was a loving and involved father as well as a hard worker,” he said.

“Rob didn’t have to die that night, but he did. If there is any comfort for his family, it would be that in Rob’s death, there is a great chance that others are alive.”

Washakie County Victim Witness Coordinator Bob Vines said, “The Kulze family is happy with this result. From the beginning, they felt that justice would be served when Mr. Leyva took responsibility for supplying Rob with the drugs that killed him. Today, they heard what they needed to hear.”

Leyva will next be in court for a sentencing hearing which has not yet been scheduled. He was represented by public defender Sarah Miles.