Pennington sentenced to probation, fine

Mylissa Pennington was sentenced on Tuesday to a 3-year probation term and 50 hours of community service.

The 18-year-old Sidney woman initially faced multiple felony drug charges when she was arrested in May.

Last month, however, a plea deal with the Cheyenne County Attorney's Office was announced. The charges against Pennington were reduced to four class one misdemeanors – two counts of attempted possession of illegal mushrooms, attempted possession of more than 1 pound of marijuana and obstructing a peace officer – in exchange for no contest pleas.

Cheyenne County District Court Judge Derek Weimer also issued a $500 fine in relation to the obstructing charge.

Pennington was arrested along with Dillon Grabowski, 22, on May 21 after law enforcement officers served a search warrant at a residence in Lodgepole. According to a probable cause affidavit, marijuana plants and dried cannabis were discovered along with dried illegal mushrooms and a mushroom grow.

On Aug. 19, a federal grand jury indicted Grabowski on a charge of possessing and distributing acetyl fentanyl analogue, a Schedule 1 controlled substance. The pretrial motion in that case deadline has been extended until Dec. 14.

Bond reduction request denied for Woolery

The bond amount for a Sidney man who is facing felony child sexual assault charges will remain set at $500,000.

Joshua Woolery, 26, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child, three charges of third-degree sexual assault of a child and one charge of attempted first-degree sexual assault of a child.

Attorney James Korth – a colleague of Woolery's court-appointed lawyer, Michael Samuelson – appeared with the defendant at a status hearing on Tuesday.

Korth asked the court to cut Woolery's bond in half, explaining the defendant has no criminal record, was employed before his arrest and is not a flight risk.

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub responded he opposed any reduction.

"The charges allege two child victims," he said.

Judge Weimer ordered the bond to continue as previously set.

Woolery has been in custody since he was arrested in October after police were contacted about the alleged assaults.