Cromwell’s Office Faces Growing Criticism Over Plea Deals and Case Dismissals

Since taking office in 2023, Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell has drawn increasing criticism for how her office handles serious cases, particularly those involving domestic violence and repeat offenders.

One of the most high-profile examples is the case of Christopher Wardle.

Prosecutors alleged that Wardle came home intoxicated, assaulted and strangled his wife, Catherine Sorensen, then took her phone, broke it, and fled the scene. Sorensen was able to reach a neighbor’s home and contact police. Officers found her with fresh blood and red markings on her neck.

Sorensen died in February 2023, a little more than a year later, after being run over by a vehicle near Divide Creek Road in Park County. Wardle brought her to the emergency room in Livingston.

Under the plea agreement offered by Cromwell’s office, the felony strangulation charge and most other counts were dismissed. Wardle pleaded guilty to one count of witness tampering and a violation of an order of protection. He received a 2½-year suspended sentence — meaning no jail time.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen strongly criticized the deal, writing:

“This case contemplates multiple of these very charges, yet the Wardle plea agreement hardly amounts to a slap on the wrist. It is not hyperbolic to suggest that you are sending a very dangerous message to domestic abusers in Gallatin County: that Gallatin County tolerates this kind of horrendous behavior and that domestic abusers will not be held to account for their crimes.”



The Bozeman Police Protective Association also publicly condemned the agreement, stating that similar plea deals and dismissals in strangulation cases have been occurring in their jurisdiction. The statement reflected growing frustration among local law enforcement with how these cases are being resolved.

This is not an isolated dispute. The Wardle plea agreement is the latest chapter in a series of public conflicts between County Attorney Cromwell and Attorney General Knudsen. We previously reported on Knudsen’s formal demand for a report on how Cromwell’s office handles domestic violence and strangulation plea deals, as well as the ongoing legal battle over information sharing with ICE. You can read those earlier articles here:

• Knudsen-Cromwell Conflict Expands Over Domestic Violence Plea Deal
• Previous coverage of the ICE information-sharing dispute and supervisory control

Rising Number of Dismissals

Data obtained through an information request shows a sharp increase in cases dismissed by the County Attorney’s office.

In 2025, Cromwell’s office dismissed 143 cases involving charges such as DUI, Violation of Protection Orders, Violation of No Contact Orders, Partner or Family Member Assault (PFMA), Assault, and Possession of Dangerous Paraphernalia.

Of those 143 dismissed cases:

• 72 involved individuals who had more than one arrest between 2021 and 2025 (50.3%)
• Those individuals averaged 6.2 prior arrests
• The highest number of prior arrests among them was 18

Looking specifically at assault and PFMA cases from 2024–2025:

• 76% of assault cases were dismissed or amended
• 89% of PFMA cases were dismissed or amended
• 
  

In many of the amended cases, the more serious charges were reduced to Disorderly Conduct.

Why This Matters

When serious charges — especially those involving domestic violence and strangulation — are repeatedly reduced or dismissed, it raises legitimate questions about whether the system is adequately protecting victims and deterring repeat offenders.

Gallatin County Republicans will continue monitoring how these cases are handled and will report further on patterns in charging, plea agreements, and dismissals under the current County Attorney.