Two Banner County elected officials were ordered to begin serving jail time immediately Friday morning following sentencing for their convictions on an amended misdemeanor charge of attempted public indecency.
According to online court records, County Court Judge Kris Mickey handed down identical sentences of 10 days in jail, a $500 fine plus court costs, 12 months probation with drug testing and associated costs, and 150 hours of community service to Banner County Treasurer Monty Stoddard and Assessor Bernice Huffman.
Stoddard, Huffman and county employee Caily Reece were originally charged with Public Indecency, a Class II Misdemeanor, and Consumption of Alcohol on Public Property, a Class IV Misdemeanor, in connection with a sexual encounter that took place inside the Banner County Courthouse Dec. 28, 2021.
Reece, who was also convicted on the same amended charge, was sentenced to a $500 fine plus court costs and 12 months probation including drug testing and the associated costs.
Both Stoddard and Huffman, who are up for re-election this year, were publicly censured by the Banner County Board of Commissioners during their meeting April 19. Board members voted 2-1 in favor of the resolution that stated it would be in the best interest of the county for both to resign. According to the minutes of that meeting, Stoddard told the Commissioners he’s not a quitter, was going to do his best to make things better and respectfully refused to resign.
