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Five defendants were sentenced by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Feb. 23.

Debra F. Jordan, 55, of Norfolk was sentenced to 364 days in the Antelope County Jail, with credit for 69 days previously served, for her conviction of theft by unlawful taking, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Jordan was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution in the amount of $210.71 and restitution, in the amount of $360, to JB Mart in Tilden. Jordan, who was represented by Antelope County public defender Patrick Carney, was remanded to Antelope County sheriff Robert Moore’s custody.

The crime was committed July 15, when Jordan entered the store after hours with her key, disabled the security alarm, retrieved the key to a safe from the manager’s office, and took $1,127 cash in two envelopes; $767 was later recovered from Jordan’s vehicle. Jordan was convicted Dec. 22, 2021, after accepting a plea bargain with Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler, who dismissed a felony burglary count.

Samantha F. Lowder, 33, Antelope County Jail, was sentenced to 245 days in the county jail for each of two crimes, criminal attempt of theft by receiving stolen property, a Class 3A felony, and criminal impersonation, a Class 4 felony. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, and she was given credit for 124 days previously served. Costs of $148 were waived. Lowder is represented by court-appointed counsel, Martin Klein of Neligh.

Lowder pleaded guilty Dec. 22, per terms of a plea deal. Abler reduced Count I from theft by receiving stolen property, more than $5,000, a Class 2A felony, and dropped a Class 4 felony, possession of methamphetamine. She was arrested Aug. 20, outside Casey’s General Store in Neligh. She told the judge her co-defendant, Anthony Lehman, 36, of Carrollton, Texas, was “real high on heroin” and wanted to go back to Texas. She said a female in North Dakota told her it was her car and, believing it was, she and Lehman “gave her money and drugs and borrowed the car.” The 2017 Honda Accord was confirmed stolen from Minot, North Dakota.

Lehman was sentenced to 364 days in the county jail, with credit for 128 days served, for his conviction of possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, with $148 costs waived.

Lehman had been granted a continuance when he appeared in court the morning of Dec. 22. However, having reached an agreement with Abler, he returned to the courtroom in the afternoon and changed his plea to guilty of possession of heroin. In return Abler dismissed a Class 2A felony, theft by receiving stolen property, and two infractions, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Lehman was represented by Carney.

Both Lowder and Lehman were remanded to Moore’s custody. They were scheduled for extradition hearings March 2.

Tiffany Beckman, 35, of Pender was sentenced to concurrent 12-month terms of probation. She was convicted Dec. 22 of attempted Medicaid fraud and attempted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud, both Class 1 misdemeanors. Terms of probation include 90 days in the Antelope County Jail, to begin Nov. 24, unless waived; and $1,200 restitution to the state assistance programs, at a rate of $100 per month, to be paid in full 30 days prior to the end of probation. She was ordered to pay a $30 probation program enrollment fee immediately, but the judge waived $360 in probation fees and drug testing fees. Beckman was also assessed $147 costs of prosecution.

Beckman was convicted of the charges Dec. 22, reduced from Class 4 felonies pursuant to a plea agreement. According to Abler’s testimony that day, SNAP benefits fraudulently received by the defendant amounted to $14,728 and Medicaid benefits, $9,117.90. She admitted that documents had been fraudulently filed and she was out of the county during the time benefits were claimed. She was represented by Carney.