An arraignment hearing for 58-year-old Laurie Gausvik was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan. Gausvik pleaded “not guilty” to the charge of Felony Theft. District Court Judge John Fenn set the three day trial to begin on June 28 and scheduled a pretrial conference for May 20 at 9 am. Judge Fenn continued Gausvik’s bond under the same terms and conditions that were previously set in Circuit Court.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Gausvik, during the months of November and December last year, made unauthorized purchases with a debit card that was not hers. The victim, in an interview with law enforcement, said he’d noticed that there were 12 unauthorized transactions on his debit card totaling over $5,800. The charge of Felony Theft is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Change of Plea and Sentencing
Whetstone was initially charged with Aggravated Assault and Battery for an incident that occurred at a residence in Sheridan County on September 3 of last year when he allegedly held a gun to the forehead of another individual. Pursuant to terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, Whetstone pleaded “guilty” to the amended charge of Reckless Endangerment.
District Court Judge John Fenn accepted the terms and conditions of the plea deal and sentenced Whetstone to one-year in jail, suspended, in lieu of one-year of supervised probation. Whetstone was given 105 days of credit for time served and ordered to pay $200 in various court costs and fees.
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Louisiana Supreme Court issued the following announcement on Jan. 18.
On Tuesday, January 19, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer swear in the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) President Sandy Holloway, Vice President Kira Orange Jones, and Secretary-Treasurer Ashley Ellis as Board officers for 2021. The Chief Justice’s participation in the virtual installation ceremony underscores the growing partnership between BESE and Louisiana’s highest court to promote awareness and understanding of the legal justice system in K-12 classrooms.
“It is a true honor for our leadership team to be sworn-in by our new Chief Justice,” said Holloway. “I am excited about the work BESE undertake in 2021 to expand literacy, improve accountability, and conduct a comprehensive review of academic standards in social studies. As we work to build standards that equip students to be informed, responsible citizens, we also embrace the oppor
Last year on September 1, 40-year-old Kenneth Matteson was arrested and charged with one count of Felony Voyeurism for allegedly placing a video camera in the bathroom of the business where he worked on North Main Street in Sheridan. Thursday, in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan, Matteson, pursuant to terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, entered a plea of “guilty” to the charge that is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
The plea agreement reached with the State recommends a sentence of 12 to 15 months of incarceration, suspended, in lieu of one-year of supervised probation. District Court Judge John Fenn ordered that a presentence investigation be completed and set the date for sentencing for March 30 at 9 am.
Abran Ulibarri A former West Las Vegas Middle School security guard has been arrested and charged with 15 felony counts following a lengthy investigation by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Abran Paul Ulibarri, 52, was arrested Thursday and booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center. He is accused of forcefully performing sexual acts on a 14-year-old girl who was a student at West Las Vegas Middle School when Ulibarri was a security guard for the school. Ulibarri no longer works for the district, Superintendent Chris Gutierrez confirmed to the Optic Thursday. Ulibarri has been charged with three counts second-degree criminal sexual penetration of a child using force or coercion, four counts second-degree criminal sexual contact with a minor by a person in a position of authority, six counts false imprisonment, bribery of a witness and criminal solicitation to commit tampering with evidence.