Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 201 - 225 of 746
Katelynn Westley, also known as Katelynn Marker, 25, of Stromsburg faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on April 19, alongside her court-appointed attorney, Dennis Moreland of Norfolk. Westley is charged with three counts of disturbing the peace, each with a separate victim, all alleged Jan. 26. With no resolution reached, the case is set for jury trial. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith estimated trial may take two days. He plans to call five witnesses and said evidence may include “computer record t...
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 Clas...
The Honorable Kale Burdick, when he presided from the bench of the Holt County court in O’Neill on April 11, set aside a conviction for Rebecca D. Strong, 48, of Ewing. The action nullifies Strong’s October 2020 conviction of a Class 2 misdemeanor, theft by deception. Burdick ruled that Strong is “unlikely to engage in further criminal activity and it is in her best interest and is consistent with the public interest” to grant the request. In her petition for set aside, Strong said she successfully completed probation, had no further convict...
summerlandadvocate.com A 19-year-old former Orchard woman has been sentenced after reaching plea agreements in six Holt County court cases. Makenzie A. Dow, now of Norfolk, and Holt County public defender Rod Smith, reached agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly on Feb. 14 in the misdemeanor cases. Kelly dismissed two of six counts in a July 29, 2022, case in exchange for Dow’s guilty pleas to remaining charges in all six cases. There was a joint recommendation for probation. The Honorable Kale Burdick handed down sentences for the c...
A South Dakota man who was found sleeping in a rural Orchard living room in March appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor at the Antelope County courthouse in Neligh last week. Douglas H. Jenkins, 36, of Brookings, waived his right to counsel and pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal trespassing, a Class 1 misdemeanor committed March 29. Jenkins told the judge he had been driving for more than 20 hours and thought the farmhouse was abandoned. “I know I must have,” he said. “I deeply apologize, it wasn’t my intent to enter anyone...
Jordan J. Knievel, 21, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on April 5 on three counts, Count I, third-degree assault on a police officer, a Class 3A felony; Count II, false reporting, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and Count III, obstructing a police officer, also a Class 1 misdemeanor. Taylor advised Knievel of the possible penalties if she is convicted of the charges, including up to three years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine on Count I and up to one year and/or $1,000 fine on each counts II and...
Brennon J. Coleman, 39, of Randolph appeared in Antelope County Court last week, alongside his court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh for preliminary hearing on a Class 3A felony, third-degree domestic assault, second offense, alleged March 12 in Neligh. Coleman waived the preliminary hearing and the Honorable Donna Taylor bound the case over to Antelope County district court, where he is set for arraignment April 26. Bond posted March 27 is continued at $20,000, 10% cash, with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim....
Dennis C. Cullen, 65, of O'Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O'Neill on April 4 for sentencing in a case that has taken a few turns. Cullen was charged with a May 20, 2022, crime, assault in the third degree, in a complaint filed by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly on Nov. 9, 2022. Cullen appeared for arraignment Dec. 6, 2022, accompanied by his attorney at the time, Martin Klein of Neligh. Cullen entered a no contest plea, pursuant to a plea agreement with...
Arrest warrants were issued for three defendants who failed to appear in the Holt County court in O’Neill on April 4. The Honorable Burdick issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Jasmine A. Heck, 35, of Bonesteel, South Dakota, who failed to appear for arraignment on seven counts. The complaint filed by Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly, on March 16 alleges, Count I, no proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor; four Class 3 misdemeanors - Count II, no valid registration; Count III, no proof of ownership; Count IV, no o...
Morgan K. Anson, 25, of Orchard appeared before the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district court in Neligh on March 29 for arraignment on four felonies and two misdemeanors. During arraignment proceedings Antelope County attorney Joe Smith dismissed Count V, indicating the misdemeanor flight to avoid arrest charge was alleged on the same date as the felony charge in Count III. Kube informed Anson of potential penalties if she is convicted of the allegations, including up to 20 years imprisonment and restitution on Count I, theft...
Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last week, alongside his attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, for pretrial hearings. Mueller is charged with first-degree sexual assault, Class 2 felony allegations in two separate cases involving separate minor victims, a 14-year-old girl on Dec. 26 and a 15-year-old girl on three occasions in 2022. Kube granted a motion for continuance filed by Klein, who said a tentative agreement was on the table, with a couple of terms yet to be resolved....
Two defendants failed to appear for hearings in the Antelope County district court in Neligh last week on contempt motions filed by Antelope County attorney Joe Smith on Feb. 22, for alleged failure to pay restitution ordered at their sentencings. Both had made recent payments. The Honorable James Kube noted the women’s failure to appear and left the matters to Smith’s discretion whether to file affidavits for arrest warrants or to schedule show-cause hearings in April. Megan Brandt, 37, of Oakdale was convicted in 2015 of theft by unl...
Michael Doty of 29, of Page faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on March 29, for pretrial hearing on two Class 3A felony counts. He was charged with making terroristic threats and a Class 3 misdemeanor, disturbing the peace. A plea agreement was announced by Doty’s attorney, Antelope County public defender Pat Carney. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith dismissed one terroristic threat count and the disturbing the peace charge and agreed to file no further charges in the case. In return, Doty p...
An Oakdale woman who recently pleaded guilty to felony drug possession, will see her case dismissed, if she successfully completes a specialized court program. Sarah J. Ward, 46, of Oakdale appeared in front of the Honorable James Kube, in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on March 2, for arraignment on a Class 4 felony count of possession of methamphetamine. Ward, who waived her right to preliminary hearing during Antelope County court proceedings March 1, was represented by Antelope County public defender Pat Carney. A plea...
Neil R. Nemec, 70, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week for sentencing on two charges, Count I, driving under the influence of alcohol, .08, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor and Count II, careless driving, an infraction. On Count I, Burdick ordered a six-month term of probation, a $500 fine and revoked his driver’s license for 60 days. He was fined $100 on Count II and taxed $105 costs of prosecution and $210 probation-related fees. Nemec pleaded guilty Feb. 14, pursuant to a plea agr...
William E. Koutsoumpas, 61, of O’Neill waived his right to preliminary hearing when he faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week. Burdick bound Koutsoumpas over to the Holt County district court on a Class 2A felony driving under the influence of alcohol charge. Koutsoumpas is alleged to have three prior DUI convictions, in 2011 and 2012. Burdick also waived jurisdiction to the district court on two infractions charges alleged in the complaint, possession of an open alcohol container and possession of...
Brennon J. Coleman, 39, of Neligh appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on March 15 for first hearing on a Class 3A felony, third-degree domestic assault, second offense. Coleman requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Martin Klein of Neligh. Preliminary hearing is set April 5. Bond was set at $20,000, 10% cash, with conditions including no contact with alleged victim and written permission from resident where he intends to reside. Coleman was remanded back to the custody of...
The Honorable Kale Burdick signed a bench warrant for the arrest of two South Dakota men who failed to appear for arraignment hearings in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week. Both warrants include bonds of $10,000, 10% cash. The defendants had each posted $500 (10% of $5,000bonds) and were released Dec. 5 following their Dec. 3 arrest in O’Neill. Tyger L. Cortier, 25, of Pine Ridge is charged with three counts, driving under the influence of alcohol, a Class W misdemeanor; no operator’s license, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and carrying a...
Francis L. Brundle Jr., 35, of Page appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Feb. 21 to face charges in three cases. Brundle changed his plea to guilty, per terms of a plea bargain, on a Class 2 misdemeanor count, no proof of financial responsibility, committed May 7, 2021. In return, Holt County attorney Brent Kelly dismissed two counts, driving during revocation/impound and no proof of ownership. Burdick fined Brundle $250 and taxed him $33 costs. A plea deal was also announced in a case f...
The illegal harvest and disposal of the carcass of a whitetail doe in January cost a Louisiana man more than $1,000. Cole Branden Thomas, 26, of West Monroe pleaded guilty, by waiver, to several counts related to shooting the deer without a permit and without the permission of a Holt County landowner. He was fined $150 and assessed $500 liquidated damages for taking the deer without a permit; fined $50 for no 2023 habitat stamp; fined $200 for killing the deer without permission from the landowner; $100 for failure to check a harvested deer...
An El Salvador citizen, who was convicted of driving with a totally obscured windshield, DUI, no license and possessing a fake ID for employment was sentenced last week. Pedro Vasquez Cruz, 66, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Mark Kozisec for sentencing in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill. Kozisec sentenced Vasquez Cruz to 30 days in the Holt County Jail, with credit for one day previously served, a $500 fine and one-year revocation of his driver’s license for driving under the influence of alcohol (greater than .15), a Class W mis...
Four defendants were arraigned by the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on felony charges Feb. 22. Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater appeared with his attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, for arraignment on first-degree sexual assault charges, Class 2 felonies alleged in two separate cases involving separate minor victims, a 14-year-old girl on Dec. 26 and a 15-year-old girl on three occasions in 2022. Meuller entered not guilty pleas to the allegations in both cases. Pretrial hearings are set March 29,...
Ron Crumly, 74, Page, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on March 1, for sentencing on a Class 4 misdemeanor committed a year earlier, on March 1, 2022. Taylor fined Crumly $250 and taxed him $50 costs for violating a statewide burn ban. Crumly was self-represented. Roland Hurtig, 61, of Orchard appeared for pretrial hearing on Count I, a Class W misdemeanor, driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense; and two infractions, Count II, possession of open alcohol container, and...
Three defendants waived their rights to preliminary hearings when they faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, March 1, on felony charges. Taylor bound the cases over to the Antelope County district court, where they are set for arraignment March 29. Reva J. Talton, 44, Antelope County Jail, is charged with a Class 4 felony, possession of methamphetamine, alleged Feb. 14, in Oakdale. Bond is continued in the amount of $7,500, 10% cash. Talton was remanded back to Antelope County sheriff Bob...
Four defendants were each given six-month terms of probation and fines for DUI convictions when they appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week. Raymundo Popocatl Perez, 32, of O’Neill appeared for sentencing on three counts, Count I, driving under the influence of alcohol, a Class W misdemeanor; Count II, speeding (78 mph in 65 zone), an infraction; and Count III, no operator’s license, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Burdick sentenced Popocatl Perez to a six-month term of probation, a $500 fine...
