District Court News

A Sheridan man was arraigned on drug charges during a hearing Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

At Thursday’s hearing, 47-year-old Scott Ragsdale pleaded not guilty to one count of delivery of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance – being in possession of more than 3/10 of a gram of methamphetamine in liquid form and one count of felony possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine. The second possession charge is being prosecuted as a felony because Ragsdale has 7 prior drug possession convictions. Three or more convictions in Wyoming results in a felony.

On April 19, 2026, Ragsdale allegedly sold methamphetamine to Miguel Sosa. He was arrested on May 1 for the two possession charges. District Court Judge Darci Phillips scheduled a three-day jury trial to begin on November 16. It is #5 in the stack, meaning there are four other jury trials scheduled for the same date. A pretrial conference will take place Tuesday, October 13 at 10:30 am. If convicted on all three counts, Ragsdale faces up to 32 years in prison and fines of up to $45,000.

Also from District Court:

A sentencing hearing was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court for Joseph Murdock, who in April, pleaded guilty to the charges of felony DUI, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance – cocaine, and misdemeanor interference with a peace officer. District Court Judge Darci Phillips accepted the terms of the plea agreement reached with the State and sentenced Murdock to 3-7 years in prison for the DUI charge and 90 days for each of the two misdemeanor charges. The 90 day sentences will run concurrent to the prison sentence. This is the sixth time Murdock has been convicted for DUI.

Murdock was arrested on November 7, 2025 when an officer with the Sheridan Police Department observed him traveling at a high rate of speed on North Main Street. Murdock swerved into the opposite lane and almost hit the officer head-on before swerving back into the correct lane of travel.

After being stopped by the officer, Murdock refused a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest and booked into the Sheridan County Detention Center. A warrant was obtained to collect a blood sample. Murdock’s blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit. During the collection of the blood sample Murdock became agitated and aggressive towards law enforcement, which resulted in the interference charge.