Judge Denies Request for Post Conviction Release

A hearing was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court in for a man who was found guilty of drug distribution at a trial last month in District Court in Sheridan. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

A request for a post conviction release for Brandon Hanni was denied by District Court Judge John Fenn following a brief hearing on the matter Thursday morning in District Court. On August 12 of this year, a jury found Hanni “guilty” of one count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance- Methamphetamine, and one count of Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance- Methamphetamine. Hannie has yet to be sentenced for the crimes. Hanni’s attorney, Francis McVay, requested that his client be released so that he could be with his father in South Jordan, Utah. McVay said that Hanni’s father is suffering from a brain malady and his client wished to be by his side in what could be his final days.

Sheridan County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christina White argued that Hanni has not been reliable in the past, pointing out that he violated conditions of his bond four times while awaiting trial.

Judge Fenn said he did not feel comfortable granting the request with the information that was presented during the hearing. Judge Fenn did say that he would be open to taking the request under consideration in the future if McVay provides more information, including more details on the father’s medical condition, and how COVID-19 regulations at the hospital in Utah may factor in the scenario.