Sheridan Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Abuse of Children

A Sheridan man was sentenced to prison Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court for sexually abusing children at a daycare facility in Sheridan. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

In February of this year, 26-year-old Caleb Morel was arrested and charged with one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. At a change of plea hearing in District Court in July, Morel, pursuant to a plea agreement reached with the State, pleaded no contest to the charges of second and third degree sexual abuse of a minor. The sexual abuse occurred during a period of March 2019 through January 2022.

District Court Judge Darci Phillips modified the terms of the plea agreement at a sentencing hearing Thursday and sentenced Morel to 10-15 years in prison for the second-degree charge and 3 to 5 years for the third-degree charge. The 3 to 5 year sentence was suspended in lieu of 10 years of supervised probation following his release from prison. Judge Phillips ordered Morel to pay $525 in various court costs and fees and $5,640 in restitution. He was given 205 days of credit for pre-sentence confinement and must register as a convicted sex offender.