Sentencing Hearing Held for Man Charged With Property Destruction

A sentencing hearing was held Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for a man charged with multiple crimes for an incident that occurred in April. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

38-year-old James Van Norman was arrested and charged with three felonies and three misdemeanors for an incident that began on April 2, and carried over into the early morning hours of April 3. Van Norman broke into a garage at a residence in Big Horn and stole a vehicle before leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase that ended in Sheridan. Pursuant to terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, District Court Judge John Fenn sentenced Van Norman to 2 to 4 years in prison for the charge of Property Destruction, suspended in lieu of three years of supervised probation, and 90 days in jail for the charge of Driving Under the Influence. The charges of Burglary, Theft, Eluding and Reckless Driving were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Judge Fenn imposed a fine of $5,000, suspended, provided that Van Norman pay $5,300 in restitution within the next 48 months. Van Norman was also ordered to pay $510 in various court costs and fees.