Beutler sentenced to 48 months probation

The woman who shouted death threats at a witness outside the Cheyenne County Courthouse – and in front of law enforcement officers – was sentenced Friday morning to 48 months probation and community service.

Misty Beutler, who turns 34 next month, pleaded guilty in April to witness tampering, a class IV felony. She had faced charges of terroristic threatening and witness tampering, both class IV felonies, prior to the plea agreement.

Judge Derek Weimer handed down the sentence and a stern statement in court on Friday.

“It’s a serious offense,” he said. “These types of things attack the character of the process we work through.

“When someone comes forward as a witness, we leave them alone,” Weimer continued. “You had no business making comments to these people. Because of that, it frays the very fabric of the case.”

Weimer sentenced Beutler to the four years of probation, fined her $500 plus court costs, ordered her to perform 100 hours of community service, told her to abstain from alcohol or controlled substances and that random drug testing would be conducted. She also received a sentence of one day in the county jail, with credit for one day served.

Beutler shouted death threats on Jan. 22 at a witness in a marijuana case involving Floyd Kettle. According to court documents, Beutler shouted “You’re dead” and “dead” at a cooperating witness in the Kettle case who was at the courthouse with a law enforcement officer to give a deposition.

Beutler was with Kettle’s wife at the time of the alleged incident, which took place near the intersection of 11th Avenue and Jackson Street. Prior to the incident, court documents show that Beutler and the Kettles were standing in a hallway in the courthouse. Officers said they wanted to avoid an altercation with the parties so they took the witness a different route and outside the courthouse.

Beutler was immediately arrested by the officer escorting the witness after he heard the alleged verbal threats.

Kettle received a jail sentence of 18-36 months this month for the marijuana conviction.

During Friday’s sentencing, Beutler took Weimer up on the opportunity to speak in court.

“I want to apologize to everybody,” Beutler said. “I want to apologize to the whole judicial system for what I did that day. I take full responsibility for what I said. It was an inappropriate time and an inappropriate place. I am guilty. I did say something. I chose to take this plea agreement as to not waste the time of the court.

“I am sorry,” she added. “I have made great changes in my life in the past eight and a half years. I am sorry.”

Beutler, represented by attorney Donald Miller, had convictions in two previous cases on her criminal record. She pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace in 2014 in an incident where she had been initially charged with assault by mutual consent. In 2007, she was convicted of possession of a controlled substance and received probation.