District Court News

A Sheridan man was sentenced in Fourth Judicial District Court Tuesday for crimes he committed last fall at a residence in Sheridan. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

On October 7, 2025, Chancy Haux was arrested by the Sheridan Police Department for illegally being in possession of an AR-15 rifle. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a violent felon and interference with an emergency call. Haux, at a sentencing hearing Tuesday, received a 2 to 3 year prison sentence for the felony charge and 180 days in jail for the misdemeanor interference charge. The sentences will run concurrent to one another and Haux was given 204 days credit for time served of presentence confinement.

Prior to issuing the sentence, District Court Judge Darci Phillips said that Haux has received multiple opportunities on probation, yet his criminal behavior has not changed and that he posed a danger to the community and she did not deem him a fit candidate for probation. Haux was ordered to pay $425 in court costs and assessments. Haux will be held at the Sheridan County Detention Center pending transfer to a facility to be determined by the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

Also from District Court Tuesday:

A change of plea hearing was held in District Court in Sheridan for 36-year-old Ralph Simpson. Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, Simpson pleaded guilty to two counts of felony theft. The State is recommending a sentence of 2 to 4 years in prison for each of the charges, concurrent to one another and consecutive to a probation revocation case in Montana. Simpson has also agreed to pay over $8,300 in restitution to Home Depot in Sheridan.

District Court Judge Darci Phillips ordered that a presentence investigation report be completed by the Department of Corrections Division of Probation and Parole and scheduled sentencing for July 7 at 9 am. Simpson’s bond was revoked and he was remanded to the custody of the Sheridan County Detention Center pending sentencing.  Simpson stole tools from the Home Depot in Sheridan on April 1 and May 16 of 2025.