Partner & Criminal Defense Attorney
About
Devon Petersen is a partner at Fleener Petersen Law. Devon graduated from Princeton University with a degree in history in 2003. He graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2008.
His legal career began with a clerkship for the District Court of the Ninth Judicial District with the Hon. Norman E. Young. Devon saw the legal system from the eyes of the judge and learned what works and doesn’t with the court. As a law clerk, Devon was exposed to all sides of each case. He instantly knew he wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer. He loved the idea of fighting for the person sitting at the defendant’s table against all the power and might of the system on the other side of the courtroom.
For the first six years of his career following his clerkship, Devon did this for the most vulnerable members of society as a public defender. In a job where he was handed the most difficult cases with the least hope of a defense, Devon was still immensely successful in jury trials. He obtained a favorable verdict in a vast majority of the cases he tried. Throughout his time as a public defender, Devon was assigned to the most serious cases. These cases included murder, homicides, sexual assault, aggravated assault and battery, and felony drug and property crimes. Through his representation of thousands of defendants, Devon gained invaluable experience and developed expertise in criminal law.
In 2018, Devon joined Tom to create Fleener Petersen, LLC. Since then, Devon and Tom have handled some of the most high-profile criminal cases in Wyoming, often obtaining full acquittals in pressure packed trials. Devon has also had success at the Wyoming Supreme Court in various noteworthy cases.
Overall, Devon has tried over thirty cases. Many of those cases have resulted in acquittals. Sometimes as solo counsel and sometimes with co-counsel, Devon has obtained acquittals on the following charges at trial: second degree murder (3x), manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide (2x), criminally negligent homicide (2x), first degree sexual assault (3x), second degree sexual assault, first degree sexual abuse of a minor, second degree sexual abuse of a minor, third degree sexual abuse of a minor (2x), aggravated assault (11x), aggravated robbery, felony interference with a peace officer, strangulation of a household member, possession of child pornography (3x), felony theft, felony delivery of methamphetamine, felony child abuse (3x), felony welfare fraud (14x), conspiracy to commit welfare fraud (2x), sexual battery, domestic violence battery, battery, DWUI, unlawful contact, and breach of peace.
Devon has also been an adjunct professor at the University of Wyoming where he taught Trial Practice and Bar Exam Preparation. He also taught Civil Pretrial Practice. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Wyoming’s Summer Trial Institute for three years. Devon is a Board Member of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association.
Devon has given multiple presentations to the Wyoming State Bar Association, WYTLA, and the University of Wyoming Law School. Presentations include jury selection, winning a self-defense murder case, effective cross examination, and how to give a winning opening statement.
Devon is licensed to practice in Colorado and Wyoming. He is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming and the United States Supreme Court.
Practice Areas
Felony Criminal Defense, Appellate and Post-Conviction Matters
