Schaffer Arraignment
On November 18 of last year 26-year-old Savannah Schaffer of Sheridan arrived late to the Sheridan Police Department for her scheduled breath test as part of the 24/7 Sobriety Program. According to court documents, Schaffer had left her vehicle running in the parking lot of the Police Department when she went inside for the scheduled breath test, and when an officer with the PD entered the vehicle to retrieve the keys after Schaffer had been arrested for showing up late for the test, the officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded methamphetamine, marijuana and various drug paraphernalia. She was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance- Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana, and Driving Under Suspension. The two drug possession charges are being prosecuted as felonies due to the fact that Schaffer has previously been convicted of similar charges three times. At an arraignment hearing in District Court Thursday, Schaffer entered pleas of “Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Impairment or Deficiency” to all three of the alleged charges. An evaluation by the Wyoming State Hospital must now be performed to determine if Schaffer is competent to stand trial. District Court Judge John Fenn set the three-day jury trial to begin on Monday, August 2, and scheduled a pretrial conference for July 8 at 11 am. Judge Fenn said those dates may change depending on the outcome and timing of the evaluation by the State Hospital. A bond hearing was also held for the defendant, as her bond had been revoked for not showing up for two previous scheduled arraignment hearings in District Court. Judge Fenn deemed Schaffer a flight-risk, and set her bond at $5,000 cash only. Schaffer must also take part in high level drug and alcohol testing at the Sheridan County Justice Office if she is released on bond. If convicted on all three charges, Schaffer faces up to 10 ½ years in prison and fines of more than $10,000.