Sheridan Man Arraigned on Three Counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children

An arraignment was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District for a Sheridan man charged with multiple felonies. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

In February, 41-year-old Chris Haenel of Sheridan was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of children for possessing sexually explicit images and videos of children. Haenel, at an arraignment hearing in District Court Thursday pleaded not guilty to all three of the charges. District Court Judge William Edelman approved a condition of Haenel’s bond allowing him to attend a sexual behavior treatment center in Idaho while out on bond. Judge Edelman scheduled a pretrial conference for August 11 at 9 am and set the jury trial for September 12.

According to court documents, an agent with the Department of Homeland Security assigned to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task force began investigating the case November 16, 2021, after a number of cybertips were filed alleging that Haenel was using the messenger app Kik to access images and videos of child pornography. A subsequent investigation determined images and videos of child pornography were affiliated with a Kik account belonging Haenel. Each count of sexual exploitation of children is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.