Convicted Sex Offender Arraigned in District Court

An arraignment hearing for a convicted sex offender was held in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

A 28-year-old Cody man who was previously convicted of Third Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Sheridan County in 2018, was arraigned in District Court Thursday. Brannon Aune pleaded “not guilty” to a charge of First Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The alleged sexual assault took place at a residence in Sheridan County in June of 2017. The Cody Police Department began investigating Aune last summer after receiving a report of a cold sexual assault. Since the crime occurred in Sheridan County, the case was turned over to the Sheridan County Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Following Aune’s “not guilty” plea, District Court Court Judge John Fenn scheduled the four-day jury trial to begin on August 16 and set a pretrial conference for September 2 at 9:30 am. The crime of First Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor is punishable by not less than 25 and not more than 50 years in prison, unless the defendant has one or more prior sexual assault convictions, then the crime is punishable by life in prison without parole. Since Aune was convicted of Third Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor on April 5 of 2018, he could be sentenced to life in prison.