Sidney woman in District court on Class III felony charge

Tonya Yates, 37, of Sidney was in District Court Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing on the charge of aiding consumation of a felony, a class IV felony.

According to court documents, on or about March 20, 2015 to June 5, 2015 Yates “did intentionally aid another to secrete, disguise or convert the proceeds of a felony or otherwise profit from a crime of felony burglary.”

Yates’ charge is connected to a case that was in Cheyenne County District Court in July, where 34-year-old Mindy Richmond was was sentenced to serve 25 to 50 years in prison on a charge of five class III felony burglary counts.

Richmond was arrested on June 11, 2015 after Yates approached the Sidney Police Department and told authorities Richmond had carried out multiple burglaries.

In an interview with police last summer, Yates said she had traveled with Richmond to numerous homes while Richmond burglarized them for prescription pills, money, jewelry and name brand clothing.

Arraignment for Yates was on July 12, where she was represented by court appointed attorney, Don Miller. Yates pleaded not guilty and requested discovery in her case.

Attorneys on the case are currently working on an agreement for a change of plea in the case.

The change of plea date is set for Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Cheyenne County District Court.