Sheridan Man Sentenced for Interference Charge

A sentencing hearing was held Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for a 22-year-old Sheridan man. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

District Court Judge John Fenn accepted the terms of the plea agreement reached with the State and sentenced Nicholas Bell to 2 to 4 years in prison for the charge of Felony Interference With a Peace Officer. The prison sentence was suspended in lieu of a split-sentence of 111 days in jail and two years of supervised probation. Bell received 111 days credit for time served and was ordered to pay $310 in various court costs and $500 in attorney fees.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the Interference charge stems from an incident that occurred on June 10 involving a vehicle that had been pulled over by an officer with the Sheridan Police Department. The driver of the vehicle was placed under arrest for Driving While Under the Influence.

During the stop, the officer noticed that Bell was hiding under the backseat of the vehicle, and while exiting the vehicle, Bell attempted to run through the officer and both Bell and the SPD officer sustained minor injuries from the fracus. Also while enroute to the Sheridan County Detention Center, Bell repeatedly slammed his head into the cage of the police car, causing a cut to the front of his forehead.