Judge orders Haskell’s probation, restitution

Joy Ufford
Posted 10/12/18

SUBLETTE COUNTY – A former sheriff who had one felony conviction overturned by the Wyoming Supreme Court was sentenced by the presiding judge, who then placed him on probation for three remaining convictions.

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Judge orders Haskell’s probation, restitution

Posted

SUBLETTE COUNTY – A former sheriff who had one felony conviction overturned by the Wyoming Supreme Court was sentenced by the presiding judge, who then placed him on probation for three remaining convictions.

Stephen R. Haskell, of Big Piney, saw his conviction for the felony of obtaining property by false pretenses overturned by the Supreme Court’s Aug. 1 decision. It upheld two more felony convictions – wrongful receiving of property and false swearing – and then remanded his case to Ninth District Court.

The presiding judge – now Judge William L. Simpson – is from the Fifth Judicial District and released his amended judgment and sentencing after Haskell’s acquittal on one charge. After the Supreme Court’s ruling, special prosecutor Michael Blonigen had filed a motion in Ninth District seeking a new judgment and sentencing, records show.

Judge Simpson’s Sept. 11 order says he considered sentencing and probation options for the remaining convictions. He did not schedule a hearing on the matter, according to court records

For Count II, wrongful receiving of property, the judge sentenced Haskell to three to five years in prison, which he suspended in favor of his successful completion of five years’ supervised probation.

For Count III, false swearing, the judge sentenced Haskell to one to two years in prison to run at the same time as the first term. He then suspended incarceration in exchange for two successful years of supervised probation concurrent with the first, court records show.

For Count IV, the misdemeanor of public officer acting before qualified, Judge Simpson ordered Haskell to pay a fine of $1,000.

The judge also ordered Haskell to pay restitution of $11,798.50 to the Sublette County treasurer, $3,345.98 to the Sublette County Attorney’s Office for prosecution costs, and other court fees of $360.