District Court News

There were a number of sentencing hearings Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

In August of 2023, 20-year-old Jeremiah Peet was arrested and charged with three crimes, second degree sexual abuse of a minor, a felony, and two misdemeanors, criminal entry and criminal trespass. At a change of plea hearing in December of 2023, Peet, pursuant to terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, pleaded guilty to the charges of felony sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree,  misdemeanor criminal entry and misdemeanor criminal trespass. The sexual abuse of a minor charge was amended from second degree to third degree as part of the plea agreement.

Peet, at a hearing Thursday in District Court, was sentenced to 4 to 6 years in prison, suspended in lieu of a split-sentence of nine months in jail to be followed by five years of supervised probation. Peet was given 203 days of credit for time served of presentence confinement. District Court Judge Darci Phillips ordered Peet to pay $625 in court costs and assessments and $750 in public defender fees. Peet, as part of the sentence, must also undergo a psychosexual evaluation and follow through with any recommendations resulting from the evaluation.

Also sentenced Thursday was 55-year-old Lisa French for the crime of felony theft. Judge Phillips accepted the terms of the plea agreement reached with the State, and sentenced French to 2 to 4 years in prison, suspended in favor of three years of supervised probation. French was ordered to pay $325 in court costs and assessments and $7,613.49 in restitution to the victim. French must pay a minimum of $250 a month towards the restitution amount and cannot enter a gambling establishment while on probation. She was also restricted from taking part in any form of gambling, including online or on her phone.

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 person, and made charges using the card without the owner’s consent. French withdrew over $7,600 at various ATM’s in Sheridan.

Also from Thursday’s docket:

A sentencing hearing was held for 38-year-old Sheena Bercier of Sheridan. On June 10, 2023, Bercier was arrested and charged with felony DUI for driving under the influence with three children present in the vehicle. Her BAC at the time of the arrest was .20. She was convicted of the same crime, DUI with a child present, in 2019.

District Court Judge Darci Phillips, at Thursday’s hearing, sentenced Bercier to 2 to 4 years in prison, suspended in favor of a split sentence of six months in jail to be followed by three years of supervised probation. She was given four days of credit for time served of presentence confinement. Bercier was ordered to pay $375 in court costs and assessments and $750 in public defender fees.