Sheridan Man Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter to be Sentenced April 21

A 34-year-old Sheridan man will be sentenced for involuntary manslaughter next week in Fourth Judicial District Court. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

At a hearing in District Court on February 19, Cody McCalla, pursuant to the terms and conditions of a plea agreement reached with the State, entered a plea of no contest to the charge of involuntary manslaughter. McCalla was arrested and charged with the crime on July 12, 2024 for punching 48-year-old Patrick Mudd in the face, causing traumatic brain injury that resulted in Mudd’s death. The altercation between the two men was the result of a parking dispute outside of the Sheridan County Fairgrounds.
The plea agreement is for McCalla to serve 4 to 6 years in prison and is a binding plea agreement, meaning that McCalla can withdraw his no contest plea at sentencing if the Court deviates from the plea agreement and the case will be reset to the stage prior to the plea agreement. The prosecution and the defendant can work on a new deal, or the case will move forward to trial.

The plea agreement between the State and McCalla also stipulates that McCalla can appeal the Court’s order that was issued on February 4, which denied his motion to dismiss under Wyoming Statute 6-2-602, which is the state’s stand your ground law. The State has also agreed to not prosecute the defendant for the multiple instances of perjury the State believes he committed while testifying at the motion to dismiss hearing on January 31. The State will also not seek any other charges against McCalla related to the incident on July 12, 2024. The Sentencing Hearing is scheduled for 9 am, Monday, April 21 in District Court.