Sheridan County Man Sentenced to Prison for Felony DUI

A Sheridan County man convicted of felony DUI was sentenced to prison at a hearing Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

On September 30, 2024, 27-year-old Cole Kennedy was arrested for driving under the influence. A REDDI report called in to law enforcement described an SUV traveling at a rate 100 mph on US Highway 14 E in the wrong lane and swerving. The report indicated that the male driver of the vehicle was not maintaining a single lane of travel and was driving erratically.

When a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper arrived, the vehicle was pulled over into a ditch and Kennedy was hunched over the steering wheel passed out. The trooper also noted that there was an open bottle of 100 proof Captain Morgan rum in the front seat cup holder. Kennedy failed the field sobriety test and a breathalyzer test rendered a blood alcohol content of .19, over twice the legal limit.

Kennedy was sentenced for the crime at a hearing Thursday in District Court in Sheridan. The DUI charge was prosecuted as a felony because of Kennedy’s three prior convictions for DUI. Kennedy was convicted for DUI in 2016, 2019 and 2020. Four or more DUI’s within 10 years in Wyoming is a felony. District Court 

Judge Darci Phillips, citing the aggravated nature of the charge, rejected the plea agreement that was reached between the defendant and the State and sentenced Kennedy to 3 to 5 years in prison. 

Judge Phillips recommended Kennedy participate in the Youthful Offender Program and said that if he successfully completes the 9 to 12 month program through the Wyoming Department of Corrections, he can then petition the court for a sentence modification. Kennedy was ordered to pay $325 in court costs and assessments and was given credit for 82 days of time served of presentence confinement.