Gillette Man Changes Plea on Drug Charges

A change of plea hearing was recently held in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for 48-year-old Gillette man who was charged in March with multiple felonies in relation to methamphetamine distribution. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

On March 13 of this year, Brian Malone of Gillette was arrested in Sheridan County and charged with three felonies; Delivery of a Controlled Substance- Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance- Methamphetamine, and Endangering Children. Pursuant to terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, Malone pleaded guilty to the delivery charge and the endangering children charge. In exchange for the guilty pleas, the State agreed to dismiss the conspiracy to deliver charge.

The State is recommending a sentence of 4 to 6 years on the delivery charge, suspended in lieu of three years of supervised probation, and 2 to 4 years for the endangering children charge, suspended in lieu of two years of supervised probation. District Court Judge John Fenn reminded Malone that the Court is not bound by the terms of the plea agreement, and may reject it altogether at sentencing.

Judge Fenn ordered that a presentence investigation be completed and set the date for sentencing for October 22 at 11 am.