SUBLETTE COUNTY – A Pinedale woman already convicted of a drug felony, who “willfully” violated her release terms and was charged with more felonies after crashing into a deputy’s vehicle, must show she means it this time about facing her problems.

On Wednesday, 9^th District Judge Marv Tyler reviewed Mariah Culwell’s two separate felony cases and probation violations at a sentencing hearing.

In the first felony case, he put Culwell on probation and deferred adjudication for marijuana delivery after public defender Rachel Weksler and then-deputy county attorney Stan Cannon crafted a plea agreement in 2021.

Culwell’s charge was reactivated and part of the June 22 hearing.

In the second, which happened last December, an intoxicated Culwell drove away from pursuing deputies and collided with a patrol vehicle set up across Pine Street to stop her. She pleaded no contest to felonies of aggravated assault and fleeing and driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Intertwined

Judge Tyler allowed Sublette County Attorney Mike Crosson and Weksler to argue their recommendations all together at the hearing. Although they are separate, he said, her violations connect them.

Culwell previously denied violations before Judge Tyler, who took her word that she could do better, but eventually admitted to them in court. She has been under house arrest with GPS and works at Ridley’s full-time.

Crosson said although “the evil here is drugs,” Culwell’s actions in December “were incredibly dangerous” to herself and others. For that, she should be removed from society.

“But if I recommend any prison, it would only be as long as absolutely necessary.”

He asked the judge for a 5- to 7-year sentence for the drug charge. “I hate doing it; I do think there’s a good person under there – I do.”

Weksler said both cases “are very intertwined.”

“The first thing I want to say is prison is not the only option here,” she said, relating she watched Culwell’s “deterioration … as an addict in active relapse. She was challenging in very many ways.”

In the final straw, Culwell left Sublette County for Salt Lake City, missing group and individual meetings and returning, lost and out of gas, the night of the collision. She called the sheriff’s office for help after she got “lost” and ran out of gas near Daniel. Deputies helped her get to town; she took a urinalysis that later revealed meth.

Shortly after, Culwell ran into a truck and fled.

Weksler asked for a suspended prison with three years of supervised probation and high levels of intensive addiction treatment to provide “structure.”

“She has been exemplary when out on bond this time, Weksler said.

Changed person

Family and friends testified about “the old Mariah” and now. They decided to not bail her out of jail, forcing her to confront her issues.

The old Mariah “only cared about herself” and “it was never her fault,” they said. The new Mariah goes to work and her daughters love her.

“Mariah has been exemplary in every step,” said Ridley’s manager Patti Sundgren. “Whatever happens, Mariah always has a job with us.”

Judge Tyler addressed Culwell about her first deferred felony. “I was asked to give you the opportunity to keep a felony conviction off your record. You were grateful ‘to work and be sober.’ I was reluctant to accept deferred prosecution because of your inability to follow a court order while out on bond.”

She “can’t point to (addiction) as the main reason you were not successful on probation. You were doing what you darn well wanted.”

“Your Honor, you gave me a chance and I messed it up,” Culwell said. “… Jail was actually a huge blessing for me. I had hit rock bottom.”

She’s been “clean and sober” for 196 days. “You want to know why this time is different?”

She has family support, her daughters, a full-time job and volunteers for the Pinedale Lions Club, she said.

“I was an entitled, dishonest little girl” who “looked for the easy way out” but now takes responsibility and is “humble enough to ask for help.”

Treatment ordered

The judge accepted her “no contest” pleas for the collision, sentencing her to 5 to 7 years minus 78 days credit and ordered her to jail until she goes for treatment, where she will remain in custody

“Upon successful completion of that we’ll come back and complete the sentencing,” he said. “… I don’t want you a minute longer than you need to be in jail but I want you in jail until you start treatment.”

Judge Tyler gave Culwell until 5 p.m. June 23 to report in.

“Anytime that you say, I will be there, Your Honor,” Culwell said. “Thank you for doing that.”