Sentencing Hearing Held for Man Charged With Felony Theft

A man who pleaded guilty to a felony theft in February was sentenced for the crime Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

District Court Judge Darci Phillips accepted the terms of the plea agreement reached between the State and Defendant Stephen Burns and sentenced Burns to 2-4 years in prison, suspended in lieu of a split-sentence of 196 days in jail and one-day of unsupervised probation. Burns was given 196 days of credit for time served of presentence confinement. Judge Phillips placed Burns on only one-day of unsupervised probation because the Court determined that Burns was not a candidate for probation in Wyoming and the fact that he is going to be extradited to Gallatin County, Montana to face probation revocation charges. Burns was ordered to pay $325 in court costs and assessments.

According to court documents, Burns was arrested last October following a traffic stop in downtown Sheridan when it was discovered that Burns was driving a 2009 Cadillac that had been reported stolen out of Bozeman, Montana.

Also from District Court:

An arraignment hearing was held for 27-year-old Mervin Bishop. On April 7, 2025, Bishop allegedly stole a Kia Soul from the Wal-Mart Parking lot in Sheridan and led law enforcement on a high speed chase on Interstate 90, where speeds reached over 110 mph. According to court documents, the high speed chase went through a construction zone with Bishop traveling in excess of 100 mph. Bishop was arrested shortly after the vehicle ran out of gas on the highway.

Bishop, at Thursday’s hearing, pleaded not guilty to the charges of felony theft and misdemeanor reckless driving and misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude an officer.  District Court Judge Darci Phillips scheduled a three-day, #6 stack jury trial to begin on Monday, September 22. A pretrial conference will take place in District Court on August 26 at 11:30 am. Bishop’s bond was continued under the same terms and conditions that were previously set in Circuit Court. If convicted on all three charges, Bishop faces up to 11 years in prison and fines of up to $11,500.