CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Presiding over his first criminal docket, Judge TJ Forwood managed a busy schedule in Laramie County Circuit Court on Jan. 8, addressing arraignments, sentencings, probation revocations and other hearings. The cases included plea changes, sentencing deferrals and various bond and probation matters.
Change of Plea and Sentencing
- Thomas Evans – Evans pleaded guilty to DUI under a plea agreement recommending 45 days suspended for one year of unsupervised probation. A factual basis was found, and sentencing was set for later in January.
Sentencing
- David Gonzales – Gonzales, age 17, initially failed to appear for sentencing but arrived after being contacted by his attorney. Sentencing was rescheduled for later in January.
- George Finocchiaro – Finocchiaro was sentenced to one year suspended for three years’ probation on a possession charge to attend drug court. On a criminal trespass charge, he received 60 days suspended for one year probation, with sentences to run concurrently. The state requested a maximum imposed sentence, citing prior criminal history. Finocchiaro was assessed $490 in court fees.
Arraignments
- Herbisha Brady – Brady pleaded not guilty to domestic battery. A scheduling conference was set for April. The victim and defense requested lifting the no-contact order, citing financial and co-parenting challenges. The state did not object, and the order was lifted.
- Kelly Martinez – Martinez failed to appear. His attorney was given until the end of the day to contact him before a bench warrant would be issued.
- Jose Medrano – Medrano also failed to appear. His lawyer was given until the end of the day to reach him before a bench warrant would be issued.
- Mandy Miller – Miller’s arraignment on a property destruction charge was rescheduled for later in January to allow the state to obtain restitution requests.
- Jorge Lobo – Lobo pleaded not guilty to driving under suspension. A scheduling conference was set for April.
- Myron Woods – Woods pleaded not guilty, with a scheduling conference set for April. The public defender requested to withdraw, citing Woods’s resources to hire private counsel. A status conference was set for February to allow Woods time to retain an attorney.
Probation and Revocations
- Chadrick Nickelson – Nickelson denied probation revocation allegations and was set for a scheduling conference in March. Speedy disposition was waived.
Other Proceedings
- Eduardo Merz Landaros – Landaros failed to appear due to being deported to Mexico. Disposition was granted as time served, quashing a warrant. Bond was converted to pay fines and fees before being returned to the poster.
- Marcos Munoz – Munoz pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance under a plea agreement recommending 45 days imposed with credit for time served. Court and public defender fees were waived. Munoz remains under a detainer from Natrona County for pending proceedings there.
Bench Warrants
- Cory Parramore – Parramore failed to appear for sentencing on a DUI charge. A bench warrant was issued.
