Call about trespassing at Cheyenne Hotel leads to wanted sex offender

A 32-year-old homeless man from Cheyenne is facing felony charges for reportedly failing to register as a sex offender.

According to booking sheets, on August 3, 2024, at approximately 12:23 p.m., police were called to the Super 8 at 1900 W. Lincolnway for a report of trespassing by a man and woman.

En route, police noticed the man, later identified as Leland Michael Rinker, leaving the area with his girlfriend and made contact with the couple near the intersection of West 17th Street and Stinson Avenue.

According to police, Rinker gave false identification several times but eventually gave his real name.

Arrest warrant for a serious crime

According to police, Rinker had a Laramie County warrant for his arrest for failure to register as a sex offender, which was signed by District Judge Sean Chambers on July 19, 2024.

According to the Wyoming Sex Offender Registry, Rinker was convicted of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor in Wyoming on October 17, 2013.

When police attempted to handcuff Rinker, he reportedly attempted to flee, but was tackled to the ground and, after a lengthy struggle with police officers, was handcuffed and secured with the WRAP quick release.

Rinker was then taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center on his warrant and a charge of obstructing a peace officer without bodily harm.

Rinker was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges in Circuit Court on August 6, 2024, with his bail set at $5,000 cash and his preliminary hearing and arraignment scheduled for August 15, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.

At 4:15 p.m. that afternoon, Rinker was taken into custody at the jail by the Parole and Parole Board without a warrant pending revocation of parole.

Please remember that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.