District Court News

A Sheridan man was recently arraigned on a felony charge in Fourth Judicial District Court. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

On September 18, 2024, 32-year-old Derrick Elkins was arrested for sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. Elkins was charged with the alleged crime for unlawfully engaging in sexual contact with a victim that was 14-years of age. At an arraignment hearing in District Court, Elkins pleaded not guilty to the charge of third degree sexual abuse of a minor. District Court Judge Darci Phillips scheduled a three-day jury trial to begin Monday March 3, 2025. 
A pretrial conference was set for February 6 at 9:30 am. A request to modify Elkins’ bond from a $10,000 cash only bond to a $10,000 cash or surety bond was denied by the Court given the  nature of the alleged crime and the defendant’s criminal history. The charge of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Also arraigned in District was Matthew Anderton for the charge of felony possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine. Anderton pleaded not guilty to the charge and Judge Phillips set trial for February 10, 2025. The charge is being prosecuted as a felony because Anderton has eight previous convictions related to drug possession. If convicted, Anderton faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.