Sheridan Man Changes Plea on Multiple Drug Charges

A Sheridan man changed his plea on two felony drug charges Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

On June 8, 2023, 40-year-old Cory Anderson was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one for being in possession of methamphetamine and one for possessing marijuana. The crimes were charged as felonies because Anderson has two prior drug possession convictions on his record, one in 2001 and the other in 2012, and the current charges result in three or more convictions, which is a felony in Wyoming.

Anderson, pursuant to terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, pleaded guilty to the charges at a hearing Tuesday in District Court. The plea agreement recommends a sentence of 2 to 4 years in prison for each of the charges, suspended in favor of three years of supervised probation. The prison sentences would run consecutive to each other, while the probation would be concurrent. The plea agreement is non-binding, which means the judge can reject the agreement altogether at sentencing and the defendant cannot withdraw their guilty plea.

District Court Judge Darci Phillips ordered that a presentence investigation be completed by the Department of Corrections Division of Probation and Parole and scheduled the sentencing hearing for November 28 at 9 am.

Other news from District Court:

An arraignment hearing for 54-year-old Lisa French was held Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan. French pleaded not guilty to the charge of felony theft at the hearing. District Court Judge Darci Phillips scheduled a three-day jury trial to begin on January 22, 2024. A pretrial conference will take place on December 19, at 9:30 am. French’s bond was continued under the same terms and conditions that were previously set in Circuit Court. According to court documents, French, between May 10 and June 27, 2023, knowingly took money from an account of another individual using their bank card and PIN, which was provided to her to purchase groceries for the individual, and made charges using the card without the owner’s consent. French withdrew over $7,600 at various ATM’s in Sheridan. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of not more than $10,000.

Also from Tuesday’s District Court Docket; 19-year-old Jeremiah Peet pleaded not guilty to the charges of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and criminal entry. Judge Phillips scheduled a #6 stack three-day jury trial for January 22, 2024, and set the pretrial conference for December 19 at 10 am. Sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Criminal entry is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of no more than $750.