Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 746
A charge against a Clearwater man was dismissed by Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith on Oct. 25. Zane Herley, 23, of Clearwater, was set for pretrial hearing Nov. 1 and trial Nov. 17 in the Antelope County court, on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor (allegedly provided a Jell-O alcohol shot to 18-year-old minor), a Class 1 misdemeanor alleged June 24 in Clearwater. According to a document filed by Smith, the reason for dismissal was that law enforcement did not preserve the evidence. Smith also dismissed a minor in...
A Neligh couple, whose June 29 argument became physical, were each sentenced to seven days in jail for counts of third-degree assault, by mutual consent. Plea agreements had been negotiated with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith by the respective court-appointed attorneys for Melissa A. Murberger, 48, represented by Martin Klein of Neligh, and Ronald E. Murberger, 48, represented by public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk. The agreement included staggered jail sentences so one of them would be available to care for their children and Smith’s a...
Two defendants waived their rights to preliminary hearings when they appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Nov. 1. Max S. Kerkman, 34, of Oakdale appeared with his lawyer, Brad Montag of Norfolk, on a pair of Class 4 felony drug charges, possession of methamphetamine and oxycodone. Taylor bound the case over to the Antelope County district court, where Kerkman is set for arraignment Nov. 29. Bond is continued at $20,000, 10% cash. Kerkman was arrested following a June 6 federal probation...
Ryan Brummels, 22, of Ewing, changed his plea to guilty to first-degree sexual assault when he appeared in front of the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last week. Brummels, who is represented by Frederick Bartell of Norfolk, appeared Oct. 25 for pretrial hearing on the charge, a Class 2 felony committed Dec. 26, 2022. A plea agreement was announced. In exchange for Brummels agreement to plead guilty, Antelope County attorney Joe Smith agreed to make no recommendation at sentencing and to file no...
Jessica J. Snyder, 41, of Ewing, who is charged with a Class 3 felony count of making terroristic threats, is scheduled for arraignment in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill on Nov. 6. After initially requesting a preliminary hearing to determine if the case merits trial, Snyder filed a written waiver of that right last Wednesday, Oct. 25. The Honorable Kale Burdick bound the case over to the district court Thursday. Snyder was arrested Oct. 8 after allegedly making threats, during a phone call and through text messages during the w...
Jay L. Herrera, 22, of Vermillion, South Dakota, failed to appear in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last week for a pretrial hearing on a charge of making terroristic threats, a Class 3 felony alleged June 7 in Neligh. His court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, asked the judge to continue the hearing. Klein said he had no way to contact his client but he had talked to the defendant’s “now ex-girlfriend,” who told him Herrera has no phone. Smith objected. The Honorable James Kube denied the request, revoked Herre...
The Honorable James Kube handed two defendants, who had been convicted of two misdemeanor counts apiece after accepting plea deals in August, concurrent 18-month probation sentences during the Oct. 25 session of Antelope County district court at the courthouse in Neligh. They were also informed of their right to petition the court to have their convictions set aside after successful completion of their probation. Jordan Knievel, 22, of Neligh faced Kube for sentencing on two Class 1 misdemeanors, third-degree assault and obstruction of a peace...
Two Stuart men received prison sentences for crimes committed in 2020, 2021 and 2022, when they appeared in front of the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill, on Oct. 16. Jacob J. Dobias, 34, was sentenced to not less than six years nor more than 12 years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for his conviction of a Class 2 felony, first-degree sexual assault, committed July 2, 2021. He was given credit for four days previously served in the Holt County Jail. He was o...
Presiding from the bench in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Oct. 10, the Honorable Kale Burdick bound two individuals over to the Holt County district court on felony charges. Cody L. Kizzire, 38, of O’Neill waived his right to preliminary hearing on three Class 1D felony counts of sexual assault of a child, alleged during a period beginning April 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2022. Kizzire entered a written not guilty plea and waived a personal arraignment appearance. His next appearance in the district court is set for Jan. 22. Bon...
The Honorable Mark Kozisec handed down prison sentences during the Sept. 27 Holt County district court session at the courthouse in O’Neill. Jairo R. Welsh Sr., 30 of Scottsbluff was sentenced to serve three years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for his conviction of child abuse, a Class 3A felony committed in August 2022. His imprisonment will be followed by an 18-month term of post-release supervision and he was taxed $195.14 costs of prosecution. He was given credit for 297 days previously s...
Jerry D. Beall Jr., 20, of Atkinson was sentenced Oct. 2 by the Honorable Mark Kozisec, in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill, for a crime committed in September 2022. On the charge of soliciting prostitution, under 18, Beall was sentenced to three years of probation, with conditions including seven days in the Holt County Jail, payment of $1,100 probation fees and partial reimbursement to the county for defense counsel fees, in the amount of $500. Terms of probation also include: Obtain employment; obtain GED; obtain a c...
Nicholas D. Harris, 37, of O’Neill appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill, on Oct. 10, for sentencing on a DUI charge committed Jan 22. Burdick fined Harris $500; ordered an 18-month term of probation, including fees of $570; ordered a 10-day jail sentence, with credit given for one day previously served; and revoked his driver’s license for 18 months. Harris was assessed $105 costs of prosecution. He pleaded guilty, in July, to driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense, a Class...
Shane A. Sleister, 49, of Oakdale faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope Count courtroom in Neligh on Oct. 4, for arraignment on two counts, Count I, resisting arrest, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and Count II, driving under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor. If convicted, Sleister faces up to a $1,000 fine and/or one year incarceration on Count I and up to $500/90 days on Count II. Sleister requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney and set further arraignment Nov. 1. Bond is continued,...
The Honorable Donna Taylor, presiding from the bench in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Oct. 4, found enough evidence to bind an Elgin man over to the district court on an allegation of felony child abuse. Robert J. Suhr, 26, of Elgin faced Taylor, alongside his attorney, Brad Ewalt of Norfolk, for a preliminary hearing on the Class 3A felony alleged Sept. 2, in Elgin. A bond hearing was held with Taylor again denying a defense request to amend a condition for no contact with the juvenile victim’s mother or her two children, e...
A man accused of a high-speed flight and crash on a stolen Polaris Razor in downtown Neligh, following the city’s 150th birthday/Old Mill Days celebration, had another felony charged added last week. Rider C. Short, 23, of Oakdale faced the Honorable James Kube on Sept. 27, for pretrial hearing on Count I, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony bound over from county court and Count II that was direct filed in district court last month, theft by unlawful taking, greater than $5,000, a Class 2A felony; as well as a...
A Randolph man was recently sentenced to serve one year in the Antelope County Jail and fined $1,000 for his latest conviction of domestic assault Brennon J. Coleman, 39, previously of Neligh, was given credit for 15 days already served and was taxed $204.71 costs of prosecution when he faced the Honorable James Kube on Sept. 27. During the sentencing hearing, Coleman, who had pleaded no contest in July, contended he had not hit the victim. When asked by the judge if he recalled the incident, he answered, “Absolutely.” And, when asked why, he...
Two Antelope County women saw their felony district court cases resolved Sept. 27 by plea agreements when they faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh. Kaitlyn C. Dozler, 23, of Norfolk faced Kube for pretrial hearing on a Class 2A felony count, fourth-offense driving under the influence of alcohol, .15 grams or more. Dozler changed her plea to guilty and Antelope County attorney Joe Smith agreed to file no additional charges in the case. An enhancement hearing was held, with Kube finding Dozler’s prev...
A written waiver was recently approved by the Honorable Kale Burdick, allowing an Omaha man to forgo a personal appearance in the Holt County courtroom for arraignment on three counts, as well as his waiver of a preliminary hearing on a felony. Mark D. Brower, 32, of Omaha is charged with a Class 4 felony, possession of a controlled substance, (psilocybe cubensis), along with two infractions, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Burdick bound the case over to the Holt County district court, where...
A 24-year-old O’Neill man has been given the opportunity to resolve a pair of felony cases through the North Central Problem Solving Court. Problem-solving courts allow for an alternate route through the criminal justice system for nonviolent drug-related offenders, utilizing a specialized team process within the existing court structure. The court's goal is to protect public safety and increase the participant's likelihood of successful rehabilitation by utilizing validated risk and need assessments, early and individualized behavioral h...
The Honorable Kale Burdick issued a warrant for the arrest of a 45-year-old North Platte man during Holt County court proceedings Sept. 5 in O’Neill. Heath L. Foster did not show for arraignment on a charge of driving during revocation, alleged July 25 in O’Neill. Burdick revoked Fosters’ $ 1,000 personal recognizance bond and set a new bond of $3,000, 10% cash. A written waiver of the right to a preliminary hearing, filed by Mark K. Brower, 33, of Omaha was accepted by Burdick Sept. 6 and Brower was bound over to Holt County district court on...
Christopher W. Robinett, 20, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Sept 6, set for preliminary hearing on a Class 2A felony burglary charge. Robinett, accompanied by his court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, waived his right to the preliminary hearing and Taylor bound the case over to the Antelope County district court, where he is set for arraignment Sept. 27. Bond is continued, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash. Shane L. Krebs, 52, of Clearwater faced Taylor for sentencing...
The Honorable Donna Taylor, presiding from the bench in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Sept. 6, denied both a prosecution motion to revoke bond and an alleged victim's request to amend the bond conditions. Robert J. Suhr, 26, of Elgin faced Taylor, alongside his attorney, Brad Ewalt of Norfolk, on a child abuse charge. If convicted of the Class 3A felony, Suhr faces up to three years in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine. He requested preliminary hearing, which Taylor set for Oct....
Taylor Schwager, 36, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh, Aug.30, with his attorney, Ron Temple. Taylor was charged with violating provisions of his post-release supervision. Temple asked for continuance, telling the judge he expected resolution by dismissal. He said no charges had yet been filed in Lancaster County for an alleged DUI. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith did not object. “I anticipate dismissal,” he said. Kube continued arraignment to Sept. 27, unless the...
The Honorable Donna Taylor set trial dates in five Antelope County court cases when she presided at the bench in the Neligh courtroom Sept. 6. Kami M. Ash, 29, of Wood River faced Taylor for arraignment on a count of driving under revocation, a Class 2 misdemeanor alleged July 21. Ash waived her right to counsel for arraignment proceedings. She pleaded not guilty, telling the judge her license was not suspended on July 21. She asked for a trial to the court, which Taylor set for Oct. 4. Shane Sleister, 48, of Oakdale is set for trial Nov. 1,...
Three defendants, who had previously waived their rights to preliminary hearings in county court, were set for arraignment in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh, last week, by the Honorable James Kube. Two entered pleas and had pretrial hearings set while a third had his arraignment delayed after he tested positive for THC. Jay L. Herrera, 22, of Vermillion, South Dakota, appeared in front of Kube on a Class 3A felony, terroristic threats, alleged June 7 in Neligh. However, after arraignment proceedings began, Antelope County...
