Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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A dad, who had been remanded to the county sheriff’s custody to serve a jail sentence, drove away from the courthouse in a private vehicle last Wednesday, with his children as passengers. Shane Sleister did not go directly to jail. Instead of proceeding north toward the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center, Sleister’s vehicle headed west on 5th Street, followed by Antelope County deputy and courtroom bailiff, Lyle Juracek, The 46-year old Oakdale man faced Taylor for sentencing on a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, a cha...
Marco A. Gomez-Rodriguez, 27, of O’Neill appeared in Holt County court last Tuesday, Aug. 11, facing an enhanced driving under the influence charge, no license on person and careless driving. Pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly, Gomez-Rodriguez entered guilty pleas to a reduced Count I, DUI, first offense, low test, and Count III, careless driving, an infraction. In return, Count II, no license on person, was dismissed. The Honorable Kale Burdick sentenced him to a $500 fine, seven days in jail, with credit f...
Roger D. Stuckwisch, 78, of Tilden, was convicted of six crimes in a sexual assault case with victims as young as four years of age. Charged with 12 counts of sexual assault of a child, five first degree and seven third degree, Stuckwisch was adjudged guilty by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district court last week, after he pleaded no contest, pursuant to a plea deal, to subjecting six different children to sexual abuse between 2005 and 2016. He was convicted of Count I, as...
William J. Deane, 64, of Page faced the Honorable Kane Burdick in the Holt County court Aug. 4, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. County attorney Brent Kelly filed an amended complaint in May, dropping an enhancement factor. Deane changed his previous not guilty plea to guilty. Burdick judged him guilty and sentenced him to a $500 fine, a six-month probation term, including $210 in fees, $50 costs of prosecution and revoked his driver’s license for 60 days. He was issued a limited one-day driving permit to travel to his r...
Last Wednesday was not a typical day in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. The Honorable Donna Taylor heard from a man who requested a year in jail and a woman who cited religion as a reason not to appear. Billy Russell, 29, of Elgin had spent the previous 96 days in the county jail on charges of driving under the influence, third offense, and resisting arrest, as his case proceeded to the point of sentencing. He nearly begged Taylor to keep him there. Russell’s mother sent a letter to the judge, asking her to keep him “as long as you can...
As the 2020-2021 fiscal year neared its second month, Antelope County leaders started their annual budget work with a special workshop meeting last week at the courthouse in Neligh. The budget must be submitted to the state by Sept. 20, with a public hearing required prior to its adoption. Although values won't be certified until later in the month, Assessor Kelly Meuller-Oltjenbruns has unofficially reported about a 3% decrease in valuation countywide. Commissioners reviewed department's...
Connor A, Napier, 18, of Ewing was fined $100, $49 costs and his driver’s license was impounded for 30 days by the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom July 14. Napier pleaded guilty to a zero-tolerance violation (minor driving in excess of .02 alcohol), an infraction committed May 24. The plea was entered pursuant to a plea deal. In return, Holt County attorney Brent Kelly dismissed a Class 3 misdemeanor count of operating an all-terrain vehicle on a controlled-access highway. Napier was represented by Brad Montag of Norfolk. R...
Max Kerkman, 30, of Oakdale was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with three years of post-release supervision, for being an unlawful user in possession of a firearm. Kerkman was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard on July 10. The charge carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system. On June 20, 2018, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search...
The Antelope County commissioners voted, last week, to issue $3 million in bonds to repair county roads. All five commissioners voted aye to a motion made by commissioner Carolyn Pedersen, seconded by commissioner Eli Jacob, late in an eight-hour meeting at the courthouse in Neligh on July 14. Proceeds from bonds will allow county employees to complete projects totaling more than $2.5 million yet this calendar year, road superintendent Aaron Boggs told the Advocate-Messenger. "Big-money" overlay...
The Honorable Donna Taylor presided over an array of cases last Wednesday, stemming from fights, traffic crashes, driving while intoxicated or under suspension, to dog attacks. In a rare move, Taylor chose not to follow a sentencing recommendation county attorney Joseph Abler offered as part of a plea deal. Abler recommended a fine only for Smokie J. Pike, 24, of Kearney, in exchange for Pike's no contest plea to third-degree assault, fight by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor. After...
An O’Neill man, who was initially stopped for speeding, has remained on the lam for months, failing numerous court appearances. The Honorable Kale Burdick signed an order July 7 for bond, posted July 25, 2019, by Cody L. Horstman, 28, be forfeited. Horstman was stopped by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper July 25, 2019, on Highway 281 south of O’Neill, for alleged speeding, 81 mph in 65 mph zone. According to a probable cause document, while questioning Horstman, the officer noticed the “light” odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Horstma...
Antelope County commissioners worked a little closer to resolving a plethora of road issues last week, although no decision was reached for bonding more work. The bulk of the July 7 meeting at the courthouse in Neligh was dedicated to county roads, in one form or another. After clearing the agenda of other business and more than an hour of discussion with road superintendent Aaron Boggs, an unofficial agreement was reached, giving Boggs direction to move forward with work on four heavily...
The Holt County supervisors finalized seating of a board of adjustment when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 30. Vice chair Steve Boshart presided, due to the potential for board of adjustment action related to TC Energy matters, with which chairman Bill Tielke has a declared conflict of interest. Clayton Goeke of Atkinson was selected, by written ballot from a pool of three interested citizens, to serve as the alternate board member. Goeke garnered three votes, Cheri Frisch of Atkinson, two, and Tom Schaaf of Lynch, non...
A former Holt County resident was sentenced to three three-year prison terms for felony convictions and three one-year terms for misdemeanor convictions, all committed in Holt County, beginning more than three years ago. Jeff A. Dolberg, 45, was sentenced by the Honorable Karin Noakes on Monday, June 29, in Holt County district court. Noakes began presiding over the case after the Honorable Mark Kozisek recused himself, pursuant to a motion filed on Dolberg’s behalf by his attorney, Rodney Smith of O’Neill. The motion to disqualify cited Koz...
Six of seven defendants who faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday morning, July 1, when she presided from the bench in the Antelope County court, faced charges stemming from alleged fights. If convicted of their individual third-degree assault, fight by mutual consent charges, they each face a possible fine of up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both, for the Class 2 misdemeanor. Hugo Estrada, 28, and Smokie J. Pike, 24, who resided in Neligh for the past several months, were cited for a May 3 fight at their residence. Pike pleaded...
Twenty-nine-forty – an accounting code that identifies an Antelope County Law Enforcement Center fund – has become a familiar term during Antelope County commissioner dialog, as well as a point of contention between county officials. The “special revenue” account was formed after the Law Enforcement Center went into operation in 2015. In the ensuing years, the balance in the account has grown to more than $400,000 from fees charged for housing prisoners from other counties and law enforcement services provided to several Antelope County...
Trinity J. Mosel, 19, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick last Tuesday, June 23, in the Holt county courtroom, charged with two infractions, committed May 15, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense. She plead guilty to both counts and was fined $100 and $300, respectively, and was assessed $49 costs. Gail L. Crosser, 40, of Hastings was sentenced for a count of careless driving committed in December 2019. Crosser pleaded guilty to the Count II infraction Feb. 4, but not guilty t...
The Honorable Mark Johnson presided from the bench in the Antelope County district court Wednesday, June 24, when he sentenced a former Neligh man to 18 months in prison for domestic assault. Brennon J. Coleman, 36, of Randolph, who was convicted of the Class 3A felony charge of third-degree domestic assault, subsequent offense, March 25, was sentenced to incarceration in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections, with credit for 69 days previously served. Assuming he loses none of his good time, Coleman will...
Justin W. Bennett, 24, formerly of Lancaster, California, currently incarcerated at the Antelope County Jail, appeared before the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom Wednesday, June 17, on an extradition request from Los Angeles County, California. Prior to facing the judge, Bennett informed county attorney Joe Abler he intended to request a hearing, to find out what the California charges are about. Documents in possession of Antelope County officials listed allegations by code only. Abler said he had not looked up...
The Holt County supervisors reviewed and set new parameters for daily meal reimbursement when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 16. Staff working outside the county will be allowed $10 for breakfast, $12 for lunch and $16 for dinner/supper. The motion was made by supervisor Steve Boshart, seconded by supervisor Doug Frahm and carried on a 6-0 vote, with supervisor Don Hahlbeck absent. Mike Zakrzewski of O’Neill was appointed to the board of adjustments, with Jim Hubel of Ewing, Mark Rossman and Barb Steskal of Atk...
Two 2019 cases were dispensed in the Holt County courtroom last week when the Honorable Kale Burdick pronounced sentence on defendants. Burdick sentenced Timothy P. Kopejtka, 47, of Page, $500 and assessed him $107 costs, on an amended charge of willful reckless driving, first offense, committed last year. The charge was reduced from a Class W misdemeanor, driving under the influence, in exchange for his guilty plea, pursuant to a plea deal with county attorney Brent Kelly. According to a probable cause affidavit, Nebraska State Patrol...
Angela Mortensen of Neligh has been appointed clerk of the district court in Antelope County, effective July 1. Mortensen, who has served as deputy clerk for more than 25 years, will serve the balance of the term of office, until January 2023, currently held by Judy Cole, who will retire June 30. Mortensen was appointed by a panel of four Antelope County commissioners Tuesday morning after applicants were interviewed. Questions were directed to three applicants, Mortensen, Tabitha Kerkman and...
SANDY SCHROTH sschroth@ summerlandadvocate.com Rebecca L. Preister, 32, of Oakdale faced the Honorable Donna Taylor Wednesday, June 3, for a preliminary hearing on a Class 3A felony count of third-degree assault on an officer. Pursuant to a plea agreement with county attorney Joseph Abler, she pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of resisting arrest, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Taylor ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing Aug. 5. Bond filed May 18, in the amount of $50,000, 10% cash, is continued. According to an affidavit, officers...
Antelope County commissioners approved an upgrade to security technology at the Antelope County Jail when they met at the courthouse in Neligh last week. After hearing some security-sensitive information during an executive session called on the advice of county attorney Joe Abler, the board heard a presentation by Rick Scheer with Control Masters, an Omaha technology company. Scheer said Control Masters is one of just a few companies in the country that provide corrections’ electronic services and he was asked to resolve some security e...
A recent effort by Holt County court staff resulted in $149 payment for a two-year-old citation and recall of a bench warrant issued in the case. An Omaha man paid a $100 fine and costs nearly two years after he was cited by a Nebraska Games and Parks officer for fishing without a permit at Spencer Dam in June 2018. Dajhaun M. Wells, 21, was cited for the Class 2 misdemeanor June 2, 2018, and given until June 19, 2018, to file a waiver or appear in Holt County court to contest the charge. Wells failed to appear in court. A bench warrant,...
