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The Honorable Mark Johnson sentenced two defendants last week when he presided from the bench in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh.

Casandra L. Howell, 38, of Trinidad, Colorado, was sentenced for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, to an 18-month term of probation, including a $30 enrollment fee and $90 in drug-testing fees. Programing fees of $450 were waived by the judge. Terms of probation also include 90 days in the county jail, less credit for 19 days previously served, the balance to be served prior to the end of probation, unless waived by probation officer; not to leave states of Nebraska or Colorado; completion, at her own expense, of a drug/alcohol evaluation and any recommended treatment or aftercare; and completing several areas of specialized programming. She was taxed $147 costs of prosecution. Court-appointed counsel, Martin Klein of Neligh, represented Howell.

A co-defendant, Darrion J. Cescolini, 27, of Denver, Colorado, is set for pretrial hearing June 29, on two counts, Class 2A felony, possession of heroin with intent to deliver, and a Class 4 felony, possession of heroin.

The couple was arrested Feb. 12, after the vehicle they were passengers in was pulled over by Nebraska State Patrol troopers east of Brunswick on Highway 20.

George M. Kelly, 28, of Topeka, Kansas, appeared for sentening on a Class 1 misdemeanor, false reporting, committed March 15, 2021. Johnson fined Kelly $1,000 and assessed $180.59 costs of prosecution. Kelly was convicted March 29, when he accepted a plea deal from Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler and pleaded no contest to an amended complaint. Abler dismissed two counts two felony counts of violating the Sexual Offender Registration Act. Kelly was represented by Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk.