Sexual Assault Trial Begins in District Court

December 10, 2024

News – Sheridan Media

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A jury trial began Monday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for a man charged with sexual assault. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

On May 4, 2024, Sheridan High School Principal Scott Cleland contacted the Sheridan Police Department to report an alleged sexual relationship between Assistant Principal Jacob Meyer and a student at the high school. On May 6, Meyer was arrested for second degree sexual assault. The alleged sexual assault occurred at Meyer’s residence on April 19, 2024. His trial got underway Monday in District Court. The jury examination and selection process lasted through the morning and early afternoon. A jury of eight men and five women were seated shortly after 2 pm.

Following preliminary jury instructions from District Court Judge Ben Kirven and opening remarks by Sheridan County and Prosecuting Attorney Dianna Bennett and Defense Attorney Jeremy Kisling, the first witness took the stand to testify for the prosecution. SHS Principal Scott Cleland testified that he learned about the relationship between Meyer and the victim on May 4 when he was contacted by Assistant Principal Levi Jensen. A student had taken screenshots of the texts on the victim’s phone between Meyer and the victim and showed the texts to Jensen. Cleland testified that he had a meeting with Meyer shortly after his conversation with Jensen where he asked Meyer about the text messages and emails with the student.

Meyer responded in an odd manner, stating that he felt like he was floating outside of his body and that the meeting was not what he thought it would be. Following the meeting with Meyer, Cleland reported the issue to Sheridan Police Department School Resource Office Meagan Phillips. Meyer was placed on leave and was later terminated by the School District.

The Prosecution’s second witness was the alleged victim. She testified that she met Meyer in 2023 several days before the fall semester began when she and two of her friends were at the high school painting their senior parking spots in the parking lot. The victim testified that she was a teacher’s assistant, which resulted in her being around Meyer’s office frequently. She said the flirtatious behavior began with Meyer giving her gift cards that were typically given to students as a reward for academic success.

The victim testified that she began leaving her jacket in Meyer’s office and that he would leave sticky notes in her pocket with funny sayings and that one time he left a flower in one of the pockets. She said the two were exchanging emails regularly and that Meyer was using his work email to correspond with her. Meyer and the victim eventually began communicating through text messaging.

The victim testified that on April 19, the night the alleged sexual assault occurred, she had been drinking alcohol with two of her friends. She said she was texting with Meyer and that he invited her to his residence that evening to have “fun, one time.” Meyer told her through text, to not park in front of his house and to be quiet as his neighbors were “nosy.” The victim testified that her two female friends dropped her off down the street from Meyer’s residence.

She said that not long after her arrival, Meyer started to kiss her and picked her up and carried her into his bedroom where they engaged in sexual activity. She testified that they eventually left the bedroom and sat on the couch and talked for a while before her friends picked her up. More witness testimony is expected to continue Tuesday. The crime of second degree sexual assault is punishable by not less than two years and not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

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