Wyoming
Wyoming Man Accused Of Bashing Neighbor In Face With Bat Has To Face Trial
A Wright, Wyoming, man accused of whacking his neighbor’s face with a baseball bat during a two-family brawl last Fourth of July doesn’t get to avoid trial on a self-defense argument, a judge ruled Tuesday.
John S. Harris, who turns 65 this year, was charged with aggravated assault last July on allegations that he beat his neighbor’s adult son Josh Springer with a baseball bat, after Springer and John’s wife Melissa got into a shouting match in front of the Harrises’ home the night of July 4, 2023.
A lengthy hearing stretching across three dates last week and Tuesday ended with Campbell County District Court Judge Stuart Healy III ruling that Harris may argue he acted in defense of self and family before a jury — but he can’t use that argument to dodge prosecution.
“Before anybody knew what was happening, Mr. Harris took a swing with a bat at Mr. Springer,” said Healy, referencing what he believed was the most credible testimony to emerge from Harris’ self-defense hearings. “I’m certainly not finding that’s what happened beyond a reasonable doubt. But … the court will find that the state did carry its burden.”
Wyoming self-defense hearings have two parts: first the defendant must provide evidence showing at first glance that he acted with reasonable self-defense.
Then the prosecutor must try to show by a preponderance of the evidence (a higher standard than the defendant shoulders) that the defendant did not behave reasonably to defend himself or others.
Harris made his case at first glance, but Healy defeated it with the evidence he showed, Healy ruled.
And yet, Healy said this self-defense argument is appropriate to go before a jury, should Harris go to trial.
First, Huge Fireworks
Melissa Harris had called police multiple times on July 4, 2023, to report that her neighbor Debbie Souza’s party guests were shooting off fireworks that battered her house, according to court documents and testimony.
Springer is Souza’s son. He was preparing to drive away from his mother’s home after the fireworks shows that night with his two sons in his vehicle. But he stopped in or along the road, got out of his vehicle and had an argument with Melissa Harris instead.
Melissa Harris told the court that Springer called her cruel and sexist names. Springer said she called him names.
Melissa Harris said Springer punched her multiple times and pulled a gun out of his truck to brandish it at her, her son, or her husband multiple times. At some point prior she had called John Harris to tell him how severe the Souza party fireworks were, she testified.
John Harris rushed home from his work at the coal mine, and emerged from his truck with a baseball bat in hand, according to court testimony.
Roads Diverged
Here’s where the testimonies diverge.
Melissa Harris described Springer attacking her, knocking her down and her young adult son Tyler Harris trying to intervene. John Harris arrived in his truck to find Tyler helping Melissa off the ground, her testimony indicates.
Tyler testified that John pulled up to witness Springer attacking them both.
And John testified that when he pulled up, he saw Melissa trying to get up from the ground while Tyler held an enraged Josh Springer back.
All three testified that Springer had charged John, growling, shortly after John pulled up. Springer is reportedly several pounds heavier and about a foot taller than John Harris.
John Harris’ attorney Christina Williams argued to the court that Harris could not possibly win a fistfight against Springer, that he pulled up to a scene of violence, and that he acted reasonably to defend himself.
The Neighbors
Souza and Springer recounted it differently, telling the court that Melissa Harris and Springer were merely exchanging words just before John Harris pulled up.
Tyler was watching but not engaging at all, Souza claimed. She also claimed the Harris men attacked her 11-year-old grandson at some point.
There were inconsistencies in all testimonies, Healy noted.
Williams had exposed inconsistencies, for example, in which Souza’s version of events did not align perfectly with what her two grandsons allegedly told police last July after the incident.
But Souza’s and Springer’s testimonies aligned more closely with one another than did the Harrises’ three testimonies, Campbell County Chief Deputy Attorney Greg Steward argued.
Healy said he agreed with Steward’s assessment of “witness credibility.” He voiced some trepidation about Springer’s testimony, noting Springer could gain by casting himself in a favorable light.
Springer had also told investigators hours after the incident that everything was “fuzzy,” according to court testimony and documents.
But Healy said he found Souza’s testimony credible and “largely consistent.”
Next
Campbell County Deputy Tyler Stearns arrived after the incident the night of July 4 to find John Harris sitting on the ground with blood coming from his mouth and nose, according to the evidentiary affidavit in the case. He saw Springer walking in the street, bleeding from wounds above his eye.
Springer had what Stearns called “significant pain, multiple cuts on his temple and right cheek, and temporarily lost consciousness while I was speaking with him.”
Both Springer and John Harris were taken to the hospital.
On Scene
Healy wondered aloud why, if Springer had punched Melissa Harris, she did not tell Stearns that when Stearns arrived on scene after the fight.
“One would think that if this detailed story that Mrs. Harris told occurred — with all the violence — that would have been the first thing out of her mouth when she spoke to Deputy Stearns,” said the judge. Rather, she noted that Springer had pulled a gun on them, but didn’t say when, the judge recounted.
Melissa Harris had testified earlier that she didn’t feel comfortable telling investigators her story at first because they had allegedly treated her unpleasantly.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
The first weekend of high school volleyball in Wyoming is here. There are tournaments galore in the state. Cheyenne, Cokeville, Cowley, Douglas, Lander, and Lingle are all hosting tournaments. There are all but two teams in action, Jackson and Wind River. They will start play next week. There is only one individual contest this week, Ft. Washakie travels to Saratoga in Class 1A Southwest action. Two conference matches are also part of the schedule.
The schedule for Week 1 is below. All schedules are subject to change. For any updates, please reach out to david@wyopreps.com.
Class 1A
Ft. Washakie at Saratoga (conference match) – MISSING SCORE
Tournaments
Cheyenne Invitational
Final Score: #3 Thunder Basin 2 #5 Star Valley 0 = 25-22, 25-18
Final Score: 4A Cheyenne East 2 3A Rawlins 0 = 25-14, 25-9
Final Score: Natrona County 2 Cheyenne Central 1 = 25-12, 14-25, 25-16
Final Score: Riverton 2 Cheyenne South 0 = 25-21, 25-16
Final Score: #1 Laramie 2 #2 Kelly Walsh 0 = 25-17, 25-19
Final Score: Green River 2 #4 Campbell County 1 = 25-21, 25-11
Sheridan vs Rock Springs – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #3 Thunder Basin 2 Riverton 0 = 25-21, 25-17
#4 Campbell County vs Natrona County – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #5 Star Valley 2 Cheyenne South 0 = 25-12, 25-23
Final Score: #2 Kelly Walsh 2 Cheyenne East 0 = 25-14, 25-21
Final Score: Cheyenne Central 2 Rock Springs 0 = 25-16, 25-15
4A Sheridan vs 3A Rawlins – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #1 Laramie 2 Green River 1 = 21-25, 25-23, 25-20
Final Score: #5 Star Valley 2 Sheridan 1 = 25-14, 22-25, 27-26
#3 Thunder Basin vs Rock Springs – MISSING SCORE
Natrona County at Cheyenne South – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: Cheyenne Central 2 Green River 0 = 26-24, 25-19
Final Score: 4A #1 Laramie 2 3A Rawlins 0 = 25-10, 25-6
Cokeville Invitational (3 courts – JV before Varsity)
2A Kemmerer at 1A #1 Cokeville – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: Bear Lake, ID 3 1A #2 Little Snake River 0 = 25-12, 25-20, 25-20
1A Riverside vs Preston, ID – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A #1 Mountain View 3 Grace, ID 1 = 19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-13
Final Score: 4A Evanston 3 West Side, ID 0 = 25-13, 25-11, 25-23
Final Score: 3A #1 Mountain View 3 1A #1 Cokeville 1 = 26-24, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21
Final Score: 1A #2 Little Snake River 3 Rich, UT 2 = 24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 15-8
Final Score: 4A Evanston 3 1A Riverside 0 = 25-19, 25-14, 25-22
2A Kemmerer vs Grace, ID – MISSING SCORE
2A Kemmerer vs 3A #1 Mountain View – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 4A Evanston 3 Preston, ID 0 = 25-23, 25-20, 27-25
Final Score: 1A #1 Cokeville 3 Grace, ID 2 = 23-25, 25-14, 16-25, 26-24, 15-7
1A #2 Little Snake River vs Star Valley JV – MISSING SCORE
1A Riverside vs West Side, ID – MISSING SCORE
Dogger Invitational in Lingle (rolling times in the High School & Middle School Gyms on the next available court)
Final Score: #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 2 Rock River 0 = 25-8, 25-8 (conference game)
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 Guernsey-Sunrise 0 = 25-19, 25-9
Final Score: #3 Upton 2 Lusk 0 = 25-23, 25-19
Final Score: Kaycee 2 H.E.M. 1 = 17-25, 25-11, 15-7
Final Score: #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 2 Arvada-Clearmont 0 = 25-7, 25-5
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 1A Hulett 0 = 25-17, 25-20
Final Score: Guernsey-Sunrise 2 Kaycee 1 = 25-22, 18-25, 15-6
Final Score: #3 Upton 2 Rock River 0 = 25-14, 25-12
Final Score: Arvada-Clearmont 2 H.E.M. 0 = 25-18, 25-23
Final Score: Lusk 2 Hulett 0 = 25-12, 25-20
Final Score: #3 Upton 2 #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 0 = 25-17, 25-20
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 1A Kaycee 0 = 25-10, 25-11
Final Score: Rock River 2 Arvada-Clearmont 0 = 25-16, 25-17
Final Score: Guernsey-Sunrise 2 Hulett 0 = 25-17, 25-16
Final Score: Lusk 2 H.E.M. 1 = 25-19, 19-25, 15-9
Final Score: 2A #3 Pine Bluffs 2 1A #3 Upton 0 = 25-15, 23-25, 15-9
Final Score: #5 Lingle-Ft. Laramie 2 Kaycee 0 = 25-20, 25-17
Final Score: Hulett 2 Rock River 0 = 25-17, 25-22
Final Score: Guernsey-Sunrise 2 H.E.M. 1 = 25-23, 20-25, 15-9
Final Score: Lusk 2 Arvada-Clearmont 0 = 25-17, 25-11
Douglas Bearcat Invitational (rolling times – JV plays 1st)
Pool A – Rec Center
Final Score: 3A #3 Douglas 2 2A #5 Wright 0 = 25-11, 25-16
Final Score: 2A Moorcroft 2 3A Burns 0 = 25-17, 25-16
Final Score: 3A #3 Douglas 2 2A Moorcroft 0 = 25-5, 25-6
2A #5 Wright vs 3A Burns – MISSING SCORE
Moorcroft vs #5 Wright – MISSING SCORE
Burns at #3 Douglas – MISSING SCORE
Pool B – Bearcat Den
Final Score: Torrington 2 Glenrock 0 = 25-16, 25-13
Final Score: 1A #4 Southeast 2 3A Buffalo 0 = 25-20, 25-16
3A Torrington vs 1A #4 Southeast – MISSING SCORE
Buffalo vs Glenrock – MISSING SCORE
1A #4 Southeast vs 3A Glenrock – MISSING SCORE
Buffalo vs Torrington – MISSING SCORE
Pool C – Middle School
Final Score: 3A Wheatland 2 2A #1 Big Horn 0 = 28-26, 28-26
Final Score: Alliance, NE 2 3A Newcastle 0 = 25-23, 25-22
Final Score: 2A #1 Big Horn 2 Alliance, NE 0 = 25-13, 25-19
Wheatland vs Newcastle – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A Wheatland 2 Alliance, NE 1 = 25-20, 23-25, 15-7
2A #1 Big Horn vs 3A Newcastle – MISSING SCORE
Lander Invitational (Fieldhouse 1 & 2 and Aux Gym are used for courts – JV plays 1st)
3A Lovell vs 2A Wyoming Indian – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A #4 Lyman 3 2A Big Piney 0 = 25-13, 25-19, 25-15
Final Score: #2 Cody 3 Pinedale 1 = 19-25, 25-16, 25-14, 28-26
3A #5 Powell vs 2A Shoshoni – MISSING SCORE
1A Farson-Eden vs 3A Worland – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 3A Lander 3 2A Thermopolis 2 = 23-25, 19-25, 25-12, 25-17, 15-13
Final Score: Lovell 3 #4 Lyman 2 = 22-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-22, 16-14
Final Score: Pinedale 3 Worland 1 = 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, 25-23
Final Score: 3A #2 Cody 3 2A Big Piney 0 = 25-9, 25-16, 25-14
1A Farson-Eden vs 2A Thermopolis – MISSING SCORE
Shoshoni vs Wyoming Indian – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: #5 Powell 3 Lander 0 = 25-21, 25-17, 25-14
North Big Horn County Tournament in Cowley (Main and Aux Gyms – JV plays 1st)
Final Score: 2A Rocky Mountain 2 1A Meeteetse 0 = 25-11, 25-6
2A #4 Greybull vs 1A Burlington – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: Dubois 2 Meeteetse 0 = 25-7, 25-11
2A #2 Tongue River vs 1A St. Stephens – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 2A Rocky Mountain 2 1A Dubois 0 = 25-22, 25-17
1A St. Stephens vs 2A #4 Greybull – MISSING SCORE
Final Score: 2A Sundance 2 1A Meeteetse 0 = 25-6, 25-9
Final Score: 2A #2 Tongue River 2 1A Burlington 0 = 25-22, 25-10
Final Score: 2A Sundance 2 1A Dubois 0 = 25-11, 25-20
Final Score: #4 Greybull 1 #2 Tongue River 1 = 25-22, 16-25
Final Score: Sundance 1 Rocky Mountain 1 = 25-18, 20-25
Burlington vs St. Stephens – MISSING SCORE
Tournaments
Cheyenne Invitational
#4 Campbell County vs #2 Kelly Walsh, 9 a.m. (East HS)
#1 Laramie vs Riverton, 9 a.m. (Central HS)
4A #3 Thunder Basin vs 3A Rawlins, 9 a.m. (South HS)
#5 Star Valley at Cheyenne East, 10 a.m.
Sheridan vs Green River, 10 a.m. (Central HS)
Rock Springs at Cheyenne South, 10 a.m.
4A #4 Campbell County vs 3A Rawlins, 11 a.m.
Riverton at Cheyenne Central, 11 a.m.
#3 Thunder Basin vs Natrona County, 11 a.m. (South HS)
Rock Springs at Cheyenne East, noon
Sheridan vs #2 Kelly Walsh, noon (Central HS)
Green River at Cheyenne South, noon
#1 Laramie vs #5 Star Valley, 1 p.m. (East HS)
#4 Campbell County vs Riverton, 1 p.m. (Central HS)
Natrona County at Cheyenne East, 2 p.m.
#2 Kelly Walsh at Cheyenne Central, 2 p.m.
Cokeville Invitaional
Gold Bracket – Courts 1 & 2
1A #1 Cokeville vs Preston, ID, 8 am (Court 1)
4A Evaston vs Star Valley JV, 10:30 am (Court 1)
3A #1 Mountain View vs 1A #2 Little Snake River, 10:30 am (Court 2)
Consolation match, 1 pm
Consolation match, 1 pm
Semifinal match, 3:30 pm
Semifinal match, 3:30 pm
5th place match, 6 pm
3rd place match, 6 pm
Championship match, 8:30 pm
Silver Bracket – Court 3
1A Riverside vs Rich, UT, 8 am
2A Kemmerer vs West Side, ID, 10:30 am
Consolation match, 1 pm
Championship match, 3:30 pm
Douglas Bearcat Invitational (rolling times – JV plays 1st)
The top 8 teams will be in the Gold bracket, split between the Rec Center & Bearcat Den
The other 4 will play round-robin games in the Silver bracket, at the Middle School
Lander Invitational (Fieldhouse 1 & 2 and Aux Gym are used for courts – JV plays 1st)
Wyoming Indian vs Big Piney, 8 a.m. (FH 1)
Lovell vs Pinedale, 8 a.m. (FH 2)
#4 Lyman vs #2 Cody, 8 a.m. (Aux)
3A Worland vs 2A Thermoplois, 10:30 a.m. (FH 1)
1A Farson-Eden vs 3A #5 Powell, 10:30 a.m. (FH 2)
2A Shonshoni at 3A Lander, 10:30 a.m. (Aux)
2A Big Piney vs 3A Lovell, 1 p.m. (FH 1)
3A #2 Cody vs 2A Wyoming Indian, 1 p.m. (FH 2)
#4 Lyman vs #5 Powell, 1 p.m. (Aux)
3A Pinedale vs 2A Thermopolis, 3:30 p.m. (FH 1)
2A Shoshoni vs 1A Farson-Eden, 3:30 p.m. (FH 2)
Worland at Lander, 3:30 p.m. (Aux)
North Big Horn County Tournament in Cowley
Gold Bracket in the Main Gym
Brown Bracket in the Aux Gym
WyoPreps Preseason Football Tour 2024
Photos from practices of teams preparing for the 2024 Wyoming High School football season.
Gallery Credit: David Settle, WyoPreps.com
When it comes to Sheridan County residents, most of them are older than 25 years of age, have a high school diploma, have better ACT scores compared to the state average, and have a higher home value.
Earlier this month the Wyoming Economic Analysis Division released its latest state and county profile report, which measures demographic, social, economic, housing and revenue conditions.
The report says Sheridan County has a population of a little more than 32,000 residents, but for the county and for the state, less than 10% of them are between the ages of 18 and 24.
About 96% of Sheridan County residents have at least a high diploma or equivalent, and 32% have at least a bachelor’s degree or better.
For the 2022-2023 school year, the average ACT score for high school juniors was 19.9, which is better than the statewide average of 18.8.
Johnson County had an average score of 18.6.
The graduate rate for the county was 88.2% and was 81.4% in the Cowboy State.
The median household income in Sheridan County was almost $69,000, and the income of about 8.7% of residents is below the poverty level, compared to 10.7% for the state.
Average full-time earnings in 2022 for men was about $66,000 per year, and about $43,500 for women, which for the latter, is about $1,400 a year below the state average.
The average home value in Sheridan County is more than $342,000, which is $70,000 more compared to all of Wyoming.
Click here for more information.
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