5.3 Court News

Posted 5/3/23

On April 11, 2022, in the District Court of the Eighth Judicial District of and for Niobrara County two cases were brought before Judge Buchanan.

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5.3 Court News

Posted

On April 11, 2022, in the District Court of the Eighth Judicial District of and for Niobrara County two cases were brought before Judge Buchanan.

Shadra Sloan-Foster pled guilty to and was sentenced on two counts of sexual assault in the third degree. She received two and half to five years in prison on each count to run concurrently. 

John Johnston was sentenced on aggravated assault and strangulation of a household member. He was sentenced to three to five years in the state penitentiary, suspended and ordered to serve one year in the Niobrara County Detention Center, pursuant to the split sentence provision. Upon completion of said jail sentence he will be placed on supervised probation for a period of three years with standard and alcohol conditions. 

On April 26, 2022, in the Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial District of and for Niobrara County four cases were brought before Judge Nathaniel Hibben. County Attorney Anne Wasserburger represented the State. 

Macdowell Whittington of Casper, Wyoming appeared via video for an arraignment for speeding 90 mph in a 70-mph zone. He plead no contest and was fined the bondable amount of $160.

John Spivey of Lusk, Wyoming appeared with his attorney and entered a plea agreement with the State. In exchange for a guilty plea to DUI and fines for careless driving and no seatbelt. The State will dismiss the bond revocation and allow a Wyoming Statute § 35-7-1037 discharge of first offender possession charge.  He was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for 3 days served and 177 suspended. Fined $750 with $200 suspended. Jail time and fines are suspended with the stipulation he successfully completes probation and pays all fines in a timely manner. He is to maintain compliance with the ASI and submit to random testing. Spivey was placed on one-year unsupervised probation and fined $1,095.

Rafael Castro appeared with his attorney Eric Palen and Wanda Butler appearing via video as a Spanish translator. Castro entered a plea agreement with the State. In exchange for a guilty plea to DUI and no insurance the State will dismiss the Open Container and Failure to Maintain Lane charges. Castro plead guilty to the DUI and was fined $750 all suspended, 180 days in jail, credit for 38 days served. He also plead guilty to No Insurance, there were no fines, all other costs and fees were suspended, 30 days in jail with credit for 38 days served. He was placed on one year probation with standard and alcohol conditions. Castro is on an ICE hold; they will come and pick him up.

Matthew Franz of Lusk, Wyoming appeared with his attorney David MacDonald or a Probation Revocation Hearing. After a lengthy hearing with testimony from Detention Deputy Joe Bleming and Franz, arguments from County Attorney Anne Wasserburger and Attorney MacDonald, Judge Hibben remanded Franz to the Niobrara County Detention Center to serve 30 days in jail. Judge Hibben encouraged Franz to not give up on himself and to follow the rules of his probation.