News – Sheridan Media
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A pretrial conference was held Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for a man accused of sexually abusing a minor. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.
A three-day jury trial remains scheduled to begin Monday, November 16 for David Fletcher, who is charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree. At Tuesday’s hearing, it was determined that 70 prospective jurors would be summoned for the jury selection process.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on November 24, 2025, investigators with the Blytheville, Arkansas Police Department contacted the Sheridan Police Department about a report of sexual abuse. A subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Fletcher for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor in Sheridan County between December 8, 2023 and September 29, 2024. If convicted, he faces up to 50 years in prison.
A pretrial conference was also held Tuesday in District Court for Alyssa Wegner. Her jury trial is also scheduled for November 16, but it is #2 in the stack, meaning if the case against Fletcher is not settled prior to November 16, Wegner’s trial would be rescheduled to a later date. Wegner was arrested and charged with felony child abuse for an incident on December 24, 2025 at a residence in Sheridan County where she allegedly punched and beat a 10-year-old victim. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Also from District Court:
A change of plea hearing for 44-year-old Zachary Melneck of Sheridan was held Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court. Melneck, pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement reached with the State, pleaded guilty to two counts of endangering children for allowing a child to remain in a dwelling where methamphetamine was possessed, stored or ingested. Melneck also pleaded guilty to two counts of felony drug possession.
The State is recommending 2 to 4 years in prison for each of the two endangering children charges, concurrent to one another, and 2 to 3 years in prison for each of the two possession charges, concurrent to one another by consecutive to the sentences for the endangering children charges.
District Court Judge Darci Phillips ordered that a presentence investigation report be completed by the Department of Corrections Division of Probation and Parole and scheduled sentencing for December 17 at 9 am. Melneck’s bond was continued under the same terms and conditions that were previously set in Circuit Court.
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Last modified: October 14, 2026