Registered sex offender becomes candidate for LCCC board

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A man running for a county school board is a registered sex offender in Wyoming.

On Tuesday, Cap City News confirmed that Anthony L. Schmidt, one of seven candidates running for the Laramie County Community College Board of Trustees, has been listed on the sex offender registry with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Schmidt’s address on the state registry matches the address listed on the county clerk’s list of candidates.

Schmidt, 46, was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child on Dec. 13, 2002, according to his registration page. He officially registered on the list on July 6, 2007. The candidate has a lifetime registration on the list.

Cap City News reached out to Schmidt for comment. He confirmed that he is a sex offender.

“I am in fact a registered sex offender. I have admitted and paid for the horrible choices I made 22 years ago,” Schmidt said via email. “I have served my time and done what was expected of me to pay my debt to the state. I know that many people will only look at this part of my past and not who I am today. I blame no one but myself for those actions and have no excuse for them. All I can do is move forward and serve our community to the best of my ability. I understand that some may be skeptical of my motives for seeking public office and rightly so. All I can do is show our community that people can grow and learn from the choices of their past and return to a normal, law-abiding life. I will always regret and remember my past. I have learned what I need to do to remain a law-abiding part of this community.”

Cap City News has requested further documentation from the Laramie County District Court regarding Schmidt’s criminal history. Additional details will be reported as they become available.