Trial Continued for Sheridan Man Charged With Two Felonies

A motion hearing was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court for a Sheridan man charged with multiple felonies. Sheridan Media’s Ron Ricther has the details.

The hearing was held to address a defense motion to continue the trial for Hunter Weiss, who is charged with sexual assault in the first degree and strangulation of a household member. The alleged crimes occurred at a residence in Sheridan County on May 1, 2023. Defense Attorney Ryan Healy stated to the Court that the motion to continue was filed because he has another trial in Campbell County scheduled for October 16, which is the same date as the scheduled jury trial for Weiss. Healy said the trial in Campbell County has already been continued and reset three times. Healy said another reason for the continuance motion was the fact that the defense would not be ready to go to trial a month from now. 

District Court Judge Darci Phillips granted the continuance and scheduled the trial for January 8, 2024. The trial is currently a #6 stack trial, meaning there are five other trials scheduled for that same date. A pretrial conference will take place on December 5 at 11:30 am. First degree sexual assault is punishable by not less than five years and not more than 50 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The strangulation charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Other District Court News: A 29-year-old Sheridan man who allegedly caused severe bodily injury to another individual changed his plea at a hearing Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court. Steven Parker pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated assault and battery for an incident on April 29, 2023, where he cut another man’s face using a box cutter. The lacerations required a total of 48 stitches to address the wounds on the victim’s face.

The plea agreement reached with the State recommends a sentence of 4 to 6 years in prison and is non-binding, meaning the judge can reject the plea deal altogether at sentencing and the defendant cannot withdraw their guilty plea. The defendant will have the opportunity to argue for a lesser sentence at the sentencing hearing. District Court Judge Darci Phillips ordered that a presentence investigation be completed by Probation and Parole and scheduled the sentencing for November 21 at 9:45 am. Parker’s bond was continued under the same terms and conditions that were previously set in Sheridan County Circuit Court. 

An arraignment hearing was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court for 35-year-old Arlen Lassen of Sheridan. Lassen pleaded not guilty to one count of delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, two counts of endangering children, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance to a minor. All of the alleged charges are felonies. The two possession charges are being prosecuted as felonies because Lassen has four prior drug possession convictions.

District Court Judge Darci Phillips scheduled a two-day, #5 stack jury trial to begin on January 8, 2024. A pretrial conference will take place December 5 at 11 am. Lassen’s bond was continued under the same terms and conditions that were previously set in Circuit Court. If convicted on all charges, Lassen faces up to 60 years in prison and fines of up to $40,000.