Man Charged With Multiple Crimes Arraigned in District Court

A man was arraigned on numerous charges at a hearing Thursday in 4th Judicial District Court in Sheridan. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

Two separate arraignments were held for 28-year-old Darren Tipton. In the first hearing, Tipton pleaded not guilty to the charges of felony strangulation of a household member and misdemeanor domestic battery. Tipton was arrested and charged with the alleged crimes on April 27 for an incident that took place at a residence in Sheridan. District Court Judge Darci Phillips scheduled a three-day jury trial for October 24 and set a pretrial conference for September 22 at 9 am. The strangulation charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The charge of domestic battery is punishable by up to six-months in jail and a fine of up to $750.

Tipton also pleaded not guilty to an indirect criminal contempt petition filed by the State for violating terms of his bond that were set in Circuit Court on April 28. In the petition filed with the Court, the State alleges that Tipton, between April 28 and May 7, made 280 calls to a phone number associated with the alleged victim and solicited others to contact the victim as well. The 280 calls were made from the Sheridan County Detention Center where he’s being held on a $10,000 cash or surety bond for the underlying charges. Judge Phillips set a $1,000 cash only bond for the contempt petition.