Stewart pleads guilty to six felonies

On Wednesday, February 19, local resident Cody Stewart, 36, appeared before the District Court in Thermopolis. Stewart had been charged in October, 2024, with twelve felony counts, involving money that was allegedly taken from the Thermopolis FFA Alumni Association.

In the information filed with the court, it was alleged that Stewart had formerly served as the treasurer of that organization, and that during her tenure as treasurer, moneys had been taken from the group without permission. On October 25, 2024, the defendant entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and waived her right to a Preliminary Hearing. Thus, the matter was bound over to District Court, and upon the recusal of Judge Bobbi Overfield, the matter was taken up by Judge Bill Simpson.

Appearing with her attorney, Christopher King, Esq., through the court’s tele-conferencing system, Stewart advised the court that she wished to change her plea, pursuant to an agreement reached with Special Prosecutor, Daniel Itzen, Esq. After being advised of the terms of the plea agreement, and after advising the defendant of her rights, and the rights she would be waiving by changing her plea, the court accepted pleas of guilty to six of the twelve counts alleged in the information. During the plea hearing, Stewart verbally admitted that she was guilty of having taken monies from the organization, without permission.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Stewart will have to make restitution to the FFA Alumni Association, in an amount to be determined at sentencing. The prosecution has agreed to seek a jail sentence of no greater than thirty months, while the defendant is free to argue for a more lenient sentence. Upon full compliance with the terms of the court’s sentence, once imposed, the remaining six felony counts will be dismissed.

The court directed that a Pre-Sentence Investigation Report by prepared and filed by the Office of Probation and Parole, and that thereafter, the matter would be set down for a Sentencing Hearing. Stewart’s bond was continued, with the same bond conditions as had been set at the time of her release from custody, on October 22, 2024.

Stewart was directed by the court to contact the Office of Probation and Parole by 5 p.m. on February 20 to schedule an appointment with that office to begin the Pre-Sentence Investigation.