CASPER, Wyo. — A Natrona County man pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual abuse of a minor and a count of possession of child pornography in Natrona County District Court on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
The charges against Travis Gonsalves stem from alleged interactions with a victim who was 15 at the time, according to the charging information.
All defendants carry a presumption of innocence until pleading or proven guilty.
A charge of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree relates to inappropriate touching of the victim in August of 2021, according to the charging information. A count in the second degree indicates that Gonsalves occupied a position of authority in relation to the alleged victim.
There is also a count of third degree of abuse as Gonsalves is alleged to have to taken explicit images of the victim while she was unaware. He is also a charged with possession of child pornography.
Interviews with the victim have lead investigators to forward aspects of the case to authorities in another state, where previous instances of abuse are believed to have taken place.
Gonsalves appeared Tuesday after transport from the Natrona County Detention Center. Bond was set at $20,000 when an initial set of charges was read to him in circuit court on July 7, 2022.
The combined charges carry penalties of up to 75 years in prison.
This story will be updated with more information upon review of charging documents.
