All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Riverton, WY) – 44-year-old David Daughtry pled “not guilty” to all charges filed against him at his arraignment hearing held in Lander’s District Court on July 30. The hearing was overseen by the Honorable Judge Jason Conder, with Tim Hancock representing the State and Zachary Mahlum acting as Defense counsel.
Daughtry faces various charges after he was reported to have escaped from custody at the Wyoming Honor Farm, a minimum classification correctional facility in Riverton, on July 7.
Daughtry, who was serving an 18-month-to-3-year sentence in Natrona County for burglary, was soon detained after escaping, but court documents state that before he was detained, he attempted to make contact with a romantic partner whom he was “agitated” with after accusing her of “cheating” on him. Upon making contact with the partner, Daughtry is reported to have used a “billy club” to break out the truck window of a different subject who was helping her move, before ramming the truck with his vehicle while the subject was still inside. Daughtry fled the scene and was later found hiding under a porch by law enforcement, with the assistance of a K9 unit. (Click here for more details.)
In total, Daughtry was charged with felony escape from official detention; misdemeanor duty to stop where an accident involves damage to an attended vehicle or property; misdemeanor property destruction or defacement; and misdemeanor reckless endangering.
At his arraignment hearing, Prosecutors and the Defense counsel indicated that a plea agreement had been reached and filed, but Judge Conder noted that the agreement had not been submitted to him in time for proper review. The plea agreement stipulated that Daughtry would plead guilty to all counts and be sentenced to no less than 12 and no more than 18 years imprisonment, and that he would also pay restitution, in addition to the standard plea agreement stipulations.
It was ultimately decided that Daughtry would plead “not guilty” at the arraignment because the court could not review the agreement in time, and a jury trial was scheduled for November 16. Because the plea agreement has been filed, a change-of-plea hearing is likely, but has not been scheduled as of this writing. If the plea is accepted at that potential hearing, the jury trial will be vacated, and a sentencing hearing will be set.
County 10 will continue to provide updates on this case as they become available, which can be viewed here.