Two Holt County defendants waived their preliminary hearings on felony charges when they appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick in the O’Neill courtroom April 4. They were bound over to the Holt County district court, where they are set for arraignment May 1. Burdick waived jurisdiction of misdemeanors and an infraction to the district court as well. Both defendants are represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith.

Marquis E. Bull, 38, of Inman is charged with 12 criminal allegations, nine of them felonies, including three Class 1D felony counts of delivering a controlled substance near a playground or school (methamphetamine, psilocybin and marijuana). He is also charged with six Class 3 felony counts of possession of deadly weapons by a prohibited person – three knives and three firearms. In addition, Bull is charged with driving during suspension, a Class 2 misdemeanor; delivery of an imitation controlled substance, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, an infraction.

A $5,000 personal recognizance bond is continued. Bond, set at $100,000 March 9, was reduced to $50,000 March 21 and then amended to PR on March 29.

Bull was arrested for the delivery of drug charges after he was stopped March 7 for the DUS allegation. According to an affidavit filed by O’Neill police officer Cully Forker, four controlled buys are alleged, occurring between Sept. 12, 2022, and March 7, using a confidential informant, two transactions took place within 1,000 feet of Inman’s public park, one near Central Nebraska Community Services’ playground and school in O’Neill and one within 1,000 feet of Ford Park and the swimming pool in O’Neill.

Following his March 7 arrest, search warrants were executed at two locations, one in O’Neill and the other in Inman. According to the affidavit, Bull resided at both residences searched. The three knives, all more than 3.5 inches long, were located at the Inman residence, along with two firearms and less than one ounce of meth.

The third firearm charge is alleged Feb. 5, according to the complaint filed by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly.

Officers searched Bull’s vehicle after the March 7 traffic stop, when they allegedly found “a substance in a form of a ball wrapped in plastic which looked like methamphetamine but turned out to be Epsom salt,” according to the officer’s affidavit, leading to the imitation controlled substance charge.

Schyler J. Burrell, 24, of Chambers faced Burdick on three counts alleged Feb. 17, Count I, disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor; count II, second-degree criminal trespass, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and attempted assault by a confined person, a Class 4 felony.

According to an affidavit filed by Sgt. Robert Jensen with the O’Neill Police Department, he was dispatched to an apartment Burrell had attempted to enter, claiming she resided there but she did not. The officer reported the resident of the apartment said Burrell insisted she lived there and kicked, yelled and knocked on the door for at least an hour, frightening the resident and her children. Jensen arrested Burrell and transported her to the county jail, where she had to be assisted “due to her lack of balance and coordination.” She resisted officers during the booking process, requiring use of a restraint chair after she allegedly attempted to kick an officer and she allegedly “swung a punch” at the jailer.

Burrell’s $2,500 PR bond is continued. Originally set at $25,000, 10%, Feb. 17, Burdick amended it Feb. 21 to PR.