Beutler makes deal in court, pleads guilty to witness tampering

A 32-year-old Sidney woman has worked out a plea agreement in a case where she was accused of shouting death threats at a witness outside the Cheyenne County Courthouse.

Misty Beutler pleaded guilty Wednesday to witness tampering, a class IV felony. She will be sentenced June 3 by Judge Derek Weimer in Cheyenne County District Court. Beutler had faced charges of terroristic threatening and witness tampering, both class IV felonies.

Beutler allegedly shouted death threats on Jan. 22 at a witness in a marijuana case involving Floyd Kettle. According to court documents, Beutler shouted "You're dead" and "dead" at a cooperating witness in the Kettle case who was at the courthouse with a law enforcement officer to give a deposition.

Beutler was with Kettle's wife at the time of the alleged incident, which took place near the intersection of 11th Avenue and Jackson Street. Prior to the incident, court documents show that Beutler and the Kettles were standing in a hallway in the courthouse. Officers said they wanted to avoid an altercation with the parties so they took the witness a different route and outside the courthouse.

Beutler was immediately arrested by the officer escorting the witness after he heard the alleged verbal threats.