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The Honorable Donna Taylor signed a bench warrant May 3 for the arrest of Ronald E. Murray, 59, of Norfolk, with bond set at $1,500, 10% cash. Murray failed to appear in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh for a hearing April 19. A previous warrant for Murray’s arrest, issued Aug. 17, 2022, after he failed to appear June 15, 2022, was served April 7 by a Madison County sheriff’s officer and Murray posted a $1,500 personal recognizance bond April 11. Murray was cited May 5, 2022, by an Antelope County deputy, in Oakdale, for three cou...
An Orchard man, who has spent most of 2023 in the county jail, was sentenced to specialized probation by a district court judge last week - along with time already served and restitution. Michael D. Fox, 37, appeared before the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on April 26 for sentencing on two counts, terroristic threats, a Class 3A felony, and criminal mischief, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Fox was accompanied by his court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh. Kube reviewed a presentence investigation...
Christopher B. Brady, 32, of Elgin appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on April 19 for re-sentencing after his admission to violating probation. Brady was placed on an 18-month term of probation Nov. 2, 2022, for a conviction of third-degree domestic assault. Violations included his admitted use of methamphetamine and positive alcohol tests. Tylor revoked probation and ordered him committed to the Antelope County Jail for six months. He was given credit for 23 days served previously. He was...
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...
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....
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...
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...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 8, 2023 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 8 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in “Summerland Advocate-Messenger” and notice was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Marsha Hart, Cody Kester, Brian King, Jeff Schlecht. Others present: Kyle Petersen, LuA...
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...
Earleen F. Jensen, 81, Royal faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on March 1, charged with a Village of Orchard ordinance violation - maintaining a dangerous building, a Class 4 misdemeanor alleged in November 2022. Jensen entered a not guilty plea and asked for more time to hire an attorney. She told Taylor that she had communicated with attorney Ron Temple of Norfolk, who had advised her how to proceed on arraignment. Taylor set trial for May 3. The case is prosecuted by Orchard village attorney Joseph...
Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 22, alongside his court-appointed attorney, Ryan Stover of Norfolk. Fernau was scheduled for pretrial conference on a Class 3A felony count of making terroristic threats. Kube sustained an oral defense motion for continuance of the conference and a jury trial. The hearing is now set April 25 and the trial, June 20. Kube ruled on a motion filed by Stover on Feb. 14. The motion asked the judge to order a psychological...
Michael Hansen, 36, of Stanton appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 16, for pretrial hearing on a charge of obstructing government operations, a Class 1 misdemeanor. In an unusual interpretation of the charge, Antelope County attorney Joe Smith amended the charge to second-degree trespassing, a Class 3 misdemeanor, and recommended a fine only at sentencing, in return for Hansen’s guilty plea. The charge had a potential penalty of up to a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Taylor f...
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...
The Honorable Donna Taylor bound five felony cases over to district court when she presided from the Antelope County court bench at the courthouse in Neligh on Feb. 15. Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater appeared in front of Taylor for a preliminary hearing on multiple first-degree sexual assault charges, Class 2 felonies alleged in two separate cases involving separate minor victims. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith requested the cases be combined. “They are related,” he said. There was no objection from Mueller’s attorneys. He is repre...
Barbara Youngblood, 42, O’Neill, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week for a pretrial hearing on Count I, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and Count II, disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor, both alleged Set. 24, 2022. “I would like to go to trial,” Youngtree told the judge. Taylor set the case for jury trial March 27 and issued instructions to attorneys. A status report filed by Antelope County atorney Joe Smith in January estimates trial will last one to two d...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Neligh, Nebraska Feb. 14, 2023 Chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Approved payroll. Approved vendor claims. General: AMERICAN SCREENING ex 255.00; AMERITAS LIFE INS CORP ex 18,885.34; ANTELOPE CO COURT ex 17.00; APPEARA ex 35.77; APPLIED CONNECTIVE TECH ex 3,928.70; BLACK HILLS ENERGY ut 4,407.66; BCBS ins 61,241.44; BOMGAARS ex 305.15; BORDERS INN/SUITES ex 288.00; CARNEY LAW ex 36,000.20; CASEYS ex 129.20; CITY OF NELIGH ut...
Morgan K. Anson, 24, Orchard waived her right to a preliminary hearing when she appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 1. Anson is charged with a Class 2A felony, theft by receiving stolen property and three Class 4 felonies, possession of methamphetamine, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and possession of burglar tools, all alleged Dec. 9, 2022. Taylor bound the case over to the Antelope County district court, where arraignment is set Feb. 22. The judge further ordered that...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Neligh, Nebraska Feb. 7, 2023 Chairman opened meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approve agenda. Approved minutes of the Jan. 10, 2023, Board of Commissioner meeting and Jan. 10, 2023, Board of Equalization meeting. Correspondence was reviewed. Zoning administrator report. Zoning permit report, clerk of the district court report; treasurer’s fund balance and miscellaneous revenue reports. Approved pay application - Ashfalls North. Approved change order - 519th Avenue....
Joe Smith will serve as Antelope County Attorney until the term, vacated following the death of Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler last month, ends in 2026. County commissioners appointed the acting deputy attorney Tuesday, during a meeting in Neligh. Chairman Charlie Henery said Smith had agreed to step in and take the job. “I’m very pleased,” Henery said. A contract for the position will be in place, due to the appointment. Smith told commissioners that state statue lets a board fill a vacancy. “No special election is required,” he said. Acc...