Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 193
Donald E. Vickers, 55, of Electra, Texas, faced the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday for an enhancement hearing and sentencing on a felony driving under the influence of alcoholic liquor, third offense. Johnson found prior DUI convictions were sufficient for Class 3A felony enhancement. Johnson found Vickers was not a suitable candidate for probation, that a sentence less than incarceration would depreciate the seriousness of the crime and promote disrespect for the law, and that...
SANDY SCHROTH sschroth@ summerlandadvocate.com San Oo, of Omaha, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, less than one ounce, first offense, committed in September 2020, by waiver. But the waiver came only after an arrest warrant was served. The warrant was issued after Oo failed to appear Jan. 19. He was cited by a Holt County deputy Sept. 22, 2020, about four miles west of O’Neill on Highway 20 and was given the option to waiver prior to Nov. 3, 2020, which he failed to do. According to court records, a court hearing was scheduled and h...
SANDY SCHROTH sschroth@ summerlandadvocate.com Three O'Neill residents were sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district courtroom in O'Neill last Monday, April 12. Fifty-four-year-old Andrew F. Clark was sentenced to not less than 18, nor more than 30 months, in an institution under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, on a Class 2 felony count, criminal attempt of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. Additionally, Clark was sentenced to not less than 12, nor more than...
Andrew J. Clifton, 52, of Orchard faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County court in Neligh last Wednesday, April 7, for pretrial hearings in two cases. A plea agreement was announced by Clifton’s attorney, Ronald Temple. Pursuant to the agreement, Clifton pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed at his parent’s Orchard home Oct. 27, 2020. Taylor fined him $200 and assessed costs of prosecution in the amount of $52. In the second case, Clifton was charged with driving under the influence of alc...
The 2021 Orchard AAU Powerlifting Meet was Saturday, April 10, with an impressive line-up of 113 registered lifters from Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa representing 14 different teams. Thirty Summerland Bobcat powerlifters competed in this year's AAU Championships. "These 30 lifters had an outstanding day for the home crowd, breaking 10 total state and American records and every Summerland school record, not to mention each lifter setting numerous personal bests," said Coach Jeff Shabram. The e...
Jose A. Ibarra Ponce, 21, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick, in the Holt County courtroom, for arraignment in two separate cases last Tuesday, April 6. Ibarra Ponce waived his right to counsel. In the first case, he pleaded guilty to a pair of infraction counts, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense, committed Feb.23. Burdick fined him $100 and $300, respectively, and taxed him $50 costs. According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by the arresting O’Neill police officer, Iba...
Donneceia McFarland, 34, of Oakdale faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom last Wednesday, April 7, for alleged second-degree forgery, $500-$1,500. McFarland requested court-appointed counsel. After holding an indigency hearing, Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa. Further arraignment on the Class 1 misdemeanor, alleged Dec. 14, 2020, is set May 19. The complaint, filed by Antelope County attorney Joe Abler, alleged the Class 1 misdemeanor occurred Dec. 14, 2020, and referenced a bill of...
In a battle of wits ... and a little trivia ... Summerland - Clearwater and St. Mary's quiz bowl teams fought through two finals to determine a winner of the Niobrara Valley Conference quiz bowl. The local quizmasters brought home the runner-up award from the March 24 event, held in Niobrara. Summerland students defeated SMH, 35-25, to set the final round, which would require the Cardinals to push Summerland-Clearwater to two finals to earn the championship. St. Mary's capitalized on bonus...
Kevin D. Rudloff, 22, of Verdigre faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last Tuesday, March 23, to be sentenced for three crimes committed last October. Burdick ordered Rudloff to serve 21 days in the Holt County Jail, beginning March 27, for operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 1 misdemeanor. He was given credit for three days previously served. The count was reduced from felony flight to avoid, pursuant to a Dec. 2, 2020, plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. Rudloff was s...
A child abuse charge was recently dropped against a Plainview man after he met terms of an agreement between his attorney and the Antelope County prosecutor. Christopher L. Beltz, 33, had pleaded not guilty in November 2020, to allegations he committed child abuse, negligently, on Aug. 17, 2020. A motion to continue his pretrial hearing, filed by his attorney, James Walz of Omaha, to allow time for completion of a parenting class, was sustained by the Honorable Donna Taylor in January. The charge was dismissed by Antelope County attorney Joe...
A 22-year-old Sioux City, Iowa, man entered a guilty plea, by waiver, in the Holt County court last week, on the fifth anniversary of the offense. The man, who was 17 when he committed the offense on St. Patrick's Day, 2017, was fined $100 and $32 costs for possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction. An arrest warrant had been signed in June 2017, after he failed to appear in court on the charge. It was reissued in June 2019. Michelle J. Brigance, 39, of Atkinson faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the county courtroom last Tuesday, March...
Ervin J. Mast, 33, of Ewing was set for a pretrial hearing in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week on four counts alleged Nov. 27, 2020, Count I, driving under the influence, .15 grams or more, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor; Count II, no proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count III, no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and Count IV, possession of an open alcohol container, an infraction. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler filed an amended complaint March 17, reducing Count I to careless drivin...
BROOKE WRAGE, CELENA SHEPHERD and MADELEINE GRANT Nebraska News Service The first week of floor debates kicked off the second week in March. Senators debated and advanced a handful of bills in the Nebraska Legislature. A recap of the week. LB255: Provide compensation to families of deceased first responders Sen. Matt Hansen, of Lincoln, introduced LB255, which would establish the In the Line of Duty Compensation Act to provide a one-time death benefit for a family member of a first responder who dies while on the line of duty. “I believe it i...
Matthew S. Spencer, 27, of Bristow appeared before the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last Tuesday March 9, facing nine counts, including one felony charge. Spencer reached a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly, resulting in dismissal of the felony count, possession of a controlled substance; and reduction of a count of possession of marijuana, from a Class 3 misdemeanor third or subsequent offense, to a Class IV misdemeanor second offense. Spencer pleaded guilty to possessing the marijuana, s...
Madeleine Grant and Brooke Wrage Nebraska News Service LINCOLN--Nebraska lawmakers continue to push for marijuana legislation this session. On Feb. 19, the Nebraska Legislature Judiciary Committee heard six bills relating to the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana. Substance possession penalties State senators are considering a bill to change the penalty for controlled substance possession. LB 287, was introduced by Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha to lessen penalties for possession of unusable amounts of controlled substances under the...
Raymond Bringewatt, 21, Antelope County Jail, waived his right to a preliminary hearing when he appeared before the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday, March 3. Taylor bound him over to Antelope County district court, where he is set for arraignment March 31. Bond, in the amount of $50,000, 10% cash, is continued. He is represented by Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa of Norfolk. Bringewatt is charged with two counts, alleged Feb. 20, Count I, driving under the influence, third offense (refusal), a Class 3A felony; and Count...
The Honorable Kale Burdick sentenced a 40-year-old Inman man in five separate cases, in addition to binding him over to district court on felony charges and granting a continuance in a seventh case. Joshua A. Carlson was sentenced to seven days in jail, with credit for three days previously served, and fined $500 on a charge of possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, third offense and was fined $100 for possession of drug paraphernalia, in the first case. The offenses were committed March 30, 2020. He was assessed $50 costs of prosecution....
Trey A. German, 20, of Inman appeared before the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district court last Monday, Feb. 22, for sentencing on one count, theft by unlawful taking, a Class 1 misdemeanor committed in October 2019. Kozisek sentenced German to a 24-month term of probation, including related fees totaling $630, and restitution of $4,000 to the victim of the crime. He was taxed $147 cost of prosecution as well. The charge was reduced from a Class 4 felony, theft by unlawful taking, Dec. 30, 2020, pursuant to a plea deal. In...
Charges have been dropped, at least for the time being, against the second of two men arrested for theft of a vehicle that was recovered near Clearwater last fall. Christopher J. Alexander, 23, of Omaha was scheduled to appear for pretrial hearing on the felony count in Antelope County district court last Wednesday, Feb. 24, but the charge was dismissed, without prejudice, by Antelope County attorney Joe Abler on Feb. 22. Bond in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash, filed Oct. 21, 2020, was released. Alexander, who was set for jury trial March 15,...
Donneceia D. McFarland, 34, of Oakdale appeared before the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Feb. 17, for pretrial hearing on a Class 1 misdemeanor count alleged Nov. 8, third-degree assault. Pursuant to a plea deal, McFarland changed her not guilty plea to guilty. In return, Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler agreed to file no additional charges related to the incident and to recommend a fine only at sentencing. Sentencing is set March 17. McFarland is represented by Antelope County public defe...
Andrew F. Clark, 54, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last Tuesday, Feb. 16, for a pretrial hearing on two June 16, 2020, counts. Clark changed his not guilty plea to no contest on a Class 2 misdemeanor count of second-degree trespassing – defy order to leave, pursuant to a plea agreement. In return, Holt County attorney Brent Kelly dismissed a Class 3 misdemeanor count of criminal mischief, 0 to $500. Burdick found Clark guilty, fined him $250 and taxed him $50 costs of prosecution. Clark...
An Elgin man was bound over to Antelope County district court on felony charges, by the Honorable Donna Taylor, when she presided from the bench in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Feb. 17. Travis D. Mace, 35, faced Taylor for further arraignment in two related cases, including possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a Class 3 felony, and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a Class 4 felony, both alleged Jan. 30 in Neligh. Mace, represented by public defender Melissa Figueroa of Norfolk,...
Jamie L. Thiele, 29, of Clearwater appeared before the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last Tuesday, Feb. 9, facing three counts. Thiele pleaded guilty to Count I, driving under the influence of alcohol, .08, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor, pursuant to a plea bargain reached with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. In return, Kelly dismissed two infractions, speeding, 16-20 miles per hour over the posted limit, and possession of open alcohol container. Burdick fined her $500, placed her on probation for six mo...
Two defendants waived their rights to preliminary hearings in the Antelope County court last Wednesday, Feb. 3, and were bound over to Antelope County district court by the Honorable Donna Taylor. Mason R. Siems, 21, of Tilden is charged with two Class 1D felony counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, alleged Nov. 21, 2020. He is set for arraignment in district court Feb. 24. Taylor set bond at $10,000, personal recognizance. Siems is represented by Antelope County public...
The Honorable Donna Taylor, presiding from the bench in the Antelope County court last week, set sentencing dates for several defendants, who admitted criminal allegations. Robert J. Evans, 41, of Elgin pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement, to one count of violating a harassment protection order, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Dec. 12. In return, Antelope County attorney Joe Abler dismissed two additional counts of violating the protection order and agreed to recommend a fine only at...
