Sheridan Man Receives Split Sentence for Strangulation Charge

A 22-year-old Sheridan man was sentenced in Fourth Judicial District Court Thursday. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

In May of 2023, Hunter Weiss was arrested and charged with two felonies, first degree sexual assault and strangulation of a household member. At a change of plea hearing in November, Weiss, pursuant to terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, pleaded guilty to the strangulation charge. In exchange for the guilty plea, the State agreed to dismiss the sexual assault charge.

At the sentencing hearing Thursday, District Court Judge Darci Phillips accepted the terms of the plea agreement and sentenced Weiss to 4 to 7 years in prison, suspended in lieu of a split-sentence of seven months in jail followed by three years of supervised probation. Defense Attorney Ryan Healy’s request for a recommendation from the Court for work release for his client was not authorized by Judge Phillips. Weiss was ordered to pay $325 in court costs and assessments was taken to the Sheridan County Detention Center where he will serve the seven month jail term.

Other District Court News:

On August 12, 2023, 41-year-old Sean Egbert was arrested and charged with multiple crimes involving drug possession and distribution of drugs in Sheridan County. At a sentencing hearing Thursday, Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Darci Phillips accepted the terms of the plea agreement reached with the State and sentenced Egbert to 5 to 9 years in prison for the charge of delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, 3 to 5 years for endangering children, and one-year for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. All of the sentences were suspended and will run current to one another. Egbert will be on supervised probation for a period of three years. He was ordered to pay $725 in court costs and assessments and $500 in public defender fees.

Also from Thursday’s District Court docket: Judge Phillips sentenced 42-year-old Byron Williams Jr. to 3-5 years in prison for the charge felony child abuse, suspended in lieu of three years of supervised probation, and one-year in jail for the charge of misdemeanor possession of a controllers substance – marijuan, suspended in lieu of one-year of supervised probation. The sentences and probationary periods will run concurrent to one another. Williams Jr. was also ordered to pay $575 in court costs and assessments and $750 in public defender fees.