Sheridan Man Charged With Second Degree Murder Arraigned in District Court

A Sheridan man charged with murder was arraigned in Fourth Judicial District Court Thursday. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

At a hearing in Sheridan County Circuit Court in late October, Israel Melvin was deemed competent to stand trial for the charge of murder in the second degree. Melvin allegedly killed his mother, 64-year-old Leonila Melvin at her home on Gladstone Street in Sheridan on January 7, 2024. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Leonila Melvin died from blunt force trauma to the head. The medical examiner concluded that a blunt object with sharp corners was used to inflict the trauma.

Israel Melvin, appearing via video conference from the Wyoming State Hospital, pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental illness at an arraignment hearing Thursday in District Court. A four-day jury trial was scheduled to begin on April 7, 2025. There will be a pretrial conference on March 6, 2025, at 9:30 am. District Court Judge Darci Phillips said that Melvin will remain in the custody of the State Hospital throughout court proceedings. Murder in the second degree is punishable by 20 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.