Change of Plea Hearing Held for Woman Charged with Multiple Felonies

A change of plea hearing was held in Fourth Judicial District Court Thursday for a woman charged with multiple felonies. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

In August of 2023, 45-year-old Karen Stephens was arrested and charged with three felonies for her role in allegedly stealing over $1,000 worth of items from two different stores in Sheridan between August 5 and August 16, 2023. Stephens, at a hearing Thursday in District Court, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft and two counts of theft. The guilty pleas were not part of a plea agreement with the State.

District  Court Judge Ben Kirven ordered that a presentence investigation be completed by Probation and Parole and said that a date for the sentencing hearing would be set within the next 70 days. Stephens’ bond was revoked and she was remanded to the custody of the Sheridan County Detention Center pending sentencing. Each of the three crimes Stephens pleaded guilty to are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.