Man Charged With Escape from Official Detention Arraigned in District Court

A 37-year-old man who attempted to escape detention after being sentenced in Sheridan County Circuit Court in March was arraigned Tuesday in 4th Judicial District Court. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the story.

On March 28, Michael Tabor was sentenced in Sheridan County Circuit Court to 45 days in the Sheridan County Detention Center for three counts of misdemeanor theft.  When Circuit Court Judge Shelley Cundiff ordered Tabor to surrender to Sheriff’s Deputy of Court Steve Matheson, Tabor ran and attempted to leave the courthouse. Matheson deployed his impact baton and struck Tabor at least three times on the right leg. Tabor continued to resist and attempted to make his way down the main stairs of the courthouse. Matheson then deployed his taser and was able to handcuff Tabor and detain him until additional law enforcement arrived on scene.

Tuesday, at an arraignment hearing in District Court, Tabor pleaded not guilty to the charge of felony escape from official detention. District Court Judge Darci Phillips set a #5 stack two-day jury trial for September 19 and scheduled the pretrial conference for August 16 at 11 am. The #5 stack means that there are four other trials scheduled for that same date. A motion made by Public Defender Jonathan Foreman to reduce the $25,000 cash only bond was denied by Judge Phillips due to the defendant’s extensive criminal history and that he poses a flight risk. The bond was continued under the same terms and conditions previously set in Circuit Court. The crime of escape from official detention is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.