All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Fremont County, WY) – A change of plea hearing for Fremont County woman Karen Rider was held on October 4, before the Honorable Judge Alan B. Johnson in the U.S. District Court of Cheyenne.
Rider was charged with federal witness tampering back in July, in relation to the case involving her daughter Kandace Sitting Eagle and son-in-law Truman Sitting Eagle.
(The Sitting Eagles were charged after law enforcement discovered a juvenile in their care who had been being kept from school, was locked in his room and deprived of food for long periods of time, and had been physically assaulted on multiple occasions. Both Truman and Kandace have since been sentenced.)
Federal court documents state investigators found that Rider coached the siblings of the victim to not speak to law enforcement during investigation interviews, despite the childrens’ previous comments of witnessing abuse during the early stages of questioning.
Rider initially pled “not guilty” to the charge, and an August 26 jury trial was set, then rescheduled for October 15.
However, a non-public plea agreement was later filed on September 17, which led to a “guilty” plea at the October 4 change of plea hearing.
A sentencing hearing has now been set for December 30.
County 10 will provide updates on Rider’s case, which can be viewed here.