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A Colorado man and an area teenager were both sentenced to jail last Wednesday, Feb. 22, by the Honorable James Kube when he presided from the Antelope County district court bench at the courthouse in Neligh.

Both men requested probation sentences so they could take advantage of treatment for substance addiction. Although Kube ruled neither was a candidate for probation, he told them he would give them an opportunity for the structure and treatment options afforded by post-release supervision by the probation office. Both were given 18 months of PRS.

Darrion J. Cescolini, 27, of Denver was sentenced to three years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for his conviction of attempted possession of heroin with intent to deliver, a Class 3A felony. He was also sentenced to one year in the facility, to be served concurrently, for conviction of a Class 4 felony, possession of heroin. He was given credit for 127 days previously served in the county jail. Cescolini was assessed PRS probation fees totaling $570 and $137 costs of prosecution. He must serve 18 months, less 127 days, before his mandatory release.

Carney asked for probation, or if he wasn’t a candidate for probation, a one-year prison sentence. He said his client would benefit from some intervention, that he “was looking for any treatment.”

“If given a chance, I won’t make you regret it,” Cescolini told Kube.

Kube noted Cescolini’s extensive criminal history, five pages long, including six weapons’ convictions and that he was a daily heroin user and frequent user of meth, costing a “significant amount of money.”

“What you can do is more important than your past,” the judge said. “What you can do something about is your future.”

Cescolini was remanded to the custody of Antelope County sheriff Bob Moore for execution of sentence. He was represented by Antelope County public defender Pat Carney.

Cescolini pleaded guilty Dec. 21, 2022, to Count I, reduced from a Class 2A felony, possession of heroin with intent to deliver and Count II, as charged, pursuant to a plea agreement with Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith.

Cescolini and co-defendant Cassandra L. Howell were arrested Feb. 12, 2022, after the vehicle they were passengers in was pulled over by Nebraska State Patrol troopers east of Brunswick on Highway 20. Howell, 38, of Trinidad, Colorado, was sentenced May 25, 2022, to an 18-month term of probation for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Howell’s probation supervision was transferred to Colorado, where she was arrested and accused of violating the probation less than a month later. She was again arrested in Colorado in September. She failed to appear for an Antelope County revocation of probation hearing in October and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Haiden M. Sleister of Tilden, once again appeared for sentencing.

Sleister also requested probation. Kube reminded him that he had previously been given probation.

“I was young and didn’t understand. Now that I have matured, I understand. I think probation would help me…I would really like probation, (I) won’t let you down,” Sleister said. “When I was younger, I would steal to help me and my younger brother because my mom was always working and was gone and Dad was incarcerated.”

Carney told the judge that Sleister had cooperated with law enforcement, that he had an addiction problem and was “trying to address it.”

“He wasn’t dealt a very good hand and didn’t make a good hand out of it,” the attorney said.

“It stands out you have had a lot of thefts in your past,” Kube said as he reminded Sleister the presentence investigation report indicated he intended to use the stolen firearm to rob another person of drugs.

He also noted reported use of LSD, cocaine, prescription drugs and even household chemicals.

“You are 19 years old. You have to get off them, it will ruin your life - for the rest of your life,” the judge said.

Kube committed Sleister to the Antelope County Jail for one year on his conviction of a Class 3A felony, criminal attempt of possession of a stolen firearm. He was given credit for 27 days served since he tested positive for drugs when he appeared in court in January for sentencing. He must serve six months, less 27 days, before his mandatory release. Sleister was assessed PRS fees totaling $570 and $147 costs of prosecution. Kube granted Sleister’s request to sit out costs. He was remanded to Moore’s custody. Sleister was represented by Carney.

Sleister pleaded guilty to the crime in October after reaching a plea agreement with the late Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler. In exchange, Abler reduced the original Count I from possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2A felony, which carried a potential for up to 20 years in prison, to attempted possession, dismissed Count II, felony theft, and agreed to file no additional charges in the case.

“You benefited from a very good plea agreement,” Kube said.