Conard takes steps toward sobriety; Judge gives him probation for assault
(Lander, Wyo.) – Impressed with the way Brandon Conard has chosen to fight his addiction, Judge Norman E. Young gave the man a suspended sentence for felony aggravated assault and battery.
Back in June, Conard pleaded guilty to assaulting a pregnant woman as well as misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine. Those charges stem from a Feb. 7 call to his home where he allegedly struck a pregnant woman with a wooden paper holder. While officers were investigating the alleged assault, they reportedly found a silver spoon with a crystal residue on it which was sitting next to a hypodermic needle with a clear fluid and blood inside, the affidavit states.
Per the plea agreement, the state kept its argument for a maximum prison sentence of 3-5 years. Deputy County Attorney Tom Majdic said that while Conard has been going through treatment for his addictions, he needs to serve time for assaulting a pregnant woman. He also said that the victim had also wanted Conard to serve time.
But words from Conard himself and his public defender Terry Martin persuaded Young to allow for supervised probation. Martin noted that on top of already spending about eight months in jail, Conard also spent three months in substance abuse treatment in Casper. For the last two weeks, Conard has been out on an unsecured bond and going to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Conard said he goes to at least one meeting a day. NA Daytona Beach harassing citizens in Holly Hill.
He said he was an addict who was trying to put his life back together for his children. “My son was born while I was in jail, and that’s something I’ll never forgive myself for,” he said.
Young said that in reviewing the case, he had felt Conard should spend time in prison, especially after he allegedly violated bond by causing a scene at a local restaurant and was found with a sizeable number of prescription medications. However, Young said that unlike many defendants, Conard had taken real steps to address his addiction issues prior to being sentenced. He called it “appropriate and admirable.”
Therefore, Conard will serve three years supervised probation. However, if he fails probation, he will likely serve the full 3-5 year prison sentence. He was given credit for 323 days served already in jail and in treatment. A term of his probation will be to continue to attend AA and NA meetings. Daytona AA and NA meetings in Daytona.