District Court News

A change of plea hearing was held Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for a 23-year-old man charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

At an arraignment hearing in District Court in Sheridan on October 4, 2022, 23-year-old Jade Hotchkin pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental impairment or deficiency to the charges of first degree sexual abuse of a minor and second degree sexual abuse of a minor.  The alleged crimes occurred between January 4 and September 20 of 2016 when Hotchkin was 16 years of age and the victim was 8-years-old. A mental health evaluation was conducted by the Wyoming State Hospital and the evaluator determined that Hotchkin was competent to stand trial.

At a hearing in January of this year, District Court Judge Darci Phillips ordered that a pretrial conference and jury trial scheduled for February 6 be vacated so a supplemental report containing information from Hotckin’s juvenile record could be drafted and submitted to the State Hospital for review. The supplemental information sent to the State Hospital did not substantially change the initial report that determined the defendant was competent to stand trial and was fully aware of what he was doing when he committed the crimes.

Hotchkin, at a hearing Tuesday in District Court, changed his plea to guilty to the charge of first degree sexual abuse of a minor. The prosecution is recommending the charge of second degree sexual abuse of a minor be dismissed at part of a plea agreement reached between the defendant and the State. The plea deal recommends a sentence of 8 to 15 years in prison. The defendant, at sentencing, can argue for a lesser sentence. Judge Phillips ordered that a presentence investigation be completed and scheduled the sentencing for June 27 at 9 am. Hotchkin’s bond was revoked and he was remanded to the custody of the Sheridan County Detention Center where he will be held until he is sentenced.

Other District Court News: A Sheridan woman changed her plea on two charges at a hearing in Fourth Judicial District Court Tuesday. Pursuant to a plea agreement that was reached with the State, Mindee Rieger pleaded guilty to the charge of felony forgery and no contest to the charge of misdemeanor theft.

The plea agreement recommends a deferred prosecution and three years of supervised probation for the felony charge and 30 days in jail, suspended in favor of six months of probation for the misdemeanor charge. The probationary term for the misdemeanor will run concurrent to the probation for the felony. The plea agreement is non binding, meaning the Court can reject the plea deal altogether at sentencing and the defendant cannot withdraw their guilty plea.

In September of 2022, Rieger was arrested and charged with the crimes for attempting to pass a check not in her name and with a forged signature, and for not paying for $65.23 in gasoline at Holiday Gas Station on North Main in Sheridan. District Court Judge Darci Phillips ordered that a presentence investigation be completed and scheduled sentencing for June 27 at 9:45 am.

A 38-year-old woman from Wyola, MT was arraigned in Fourth Judicial District Court Tuesday. Joetta Hiwalker pleaded not guilty to one count of felony theft and not guilty to one count of misdemeanor interference with a peace officer. Hiwalker was arrested on March 4 of this year for allegedly attempting to steal merchandise from Walmart in Sheridan and then fleeing from law enforcement by climbing out the window of the patrol vehicle. Hiwalker was apprehended soon after at a nearby business. The theft charge is being prosecuted as a felony because the item or items Hiwalker attempted to steal were valued at more than $1,000, which is a felony in Wyoming.

District Court Judge Darci Phillips set the date for pretrial conference for August 3 at 9 am and scheduled a two-day jury trial to begin on August 28. A bond modification request to lower the $5,000 cash or surety bond or for the defendant to be released on her own recognizance was denied by the Court. If convicted on both charges, Hiwalker faces up to 11 years in prison and fines of up to $11,000.