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 261
The Honorable Mark Johnson denied an incarcerated man’s request for an amended sentence when he presided over the Antelope County district court last Wednesday, Nov. 25, in Neligh. Robert Wagle, 36, is currently imprisoned at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln, under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. He was sentenced Sept. 30, by Johnson, to serve four to eight years for a Class 2A felony theft conviction. He was given credit for eight days previously served. The sentence was ordered c...
The Honorable Donna Taylor resentenced a Ewing man, whose probation was revoked after he admitted violating its terms, last Wednesday in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. Shawn N. Stenka, 37, was sentenced to serve 30 days in the Antelope County Jail, with credit for two days previously served. Taylor revoked his driver’s license for one year, giving him credit for 365 days suspension. Stenka was placed on a 12-month term of probation Nov. 20, 2019, for a conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol. He admitted violations, i...
Jeremy J. Mathrole, 40, of Crofton appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom Wednesday, Oct. 28, for sentencing on a count of violating the Nebraska Sexual Offender Registration Act. Mathrole was represented by Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, who commented, “I think this is a lesson for the Legislature,” citing the differences in registry regulations in different states and his client’s travel to multiple states for work. He requested a sentence of time already served, alternately stating Mathrole had the abili...
"You say you are not a monster. You are wrong. You are." Those were words the Honorable Mark Johnson had for Roger D. Stuckwisch in the Antelope County district courtroom last Wednesday morning, before he passed sentence on the former Tilden resident who was convicted of six crimes in a sexual assault case with victims as young as four years of age. Stuckwisch was sentenced to the Nebraska Department of Corrections for not less than 30 years, nor more than 40 years on his conviction of...
Christopher L. Beltz, 33, of Plainview faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County court last Wednesday, Oct. 21, without counsel, on a Class 1 misdemeanor count of child abuse/neglect, alleged Aug. 17. Beltz requested a continuance to allow retaining an attorney. Taylor granted the request and set further arraignment for Nov. 18. If convicted, Beltz faces a penalty of up to $1,000 and/or one-year incarceration, in addition to possible restitution. Three Elgin men, who faced Taylor on charges stemming from a fight at 306 Pine...
Antelope County court proceedings got off to a late start last Wednesday, Oct. 21, due to the county prosecutor being involved in a Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review hearing, remotely, with other county officials. Once county attorney Joe Abler arrived in the courtroom, the Honorable Donna Taylor and the court staff worked through a lengthy docket in short order, finishing with criminal cases by about 11 a.m. Fernando J. Hernandez, 36, of Fremont faced Taylor with his attorney, Dennis Morland of Norfolk, for further arraignment of a Class W...
A South Carolina man who has been jailed in Nebraska since last December, was sentenced to serve not less than four, nor more than eight years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for a crime committed in Antelope County. Accompanied by public defender Melissa Figueroa of Norfolk, Robert Wagle was handed the sentence in the Antelope County district courtroom Sept. 30 by the Honorable Mark Johnson. In an allocution statement, Figueroa told Johnson her client thought the vehicle belonged to his employer,...
Dennis C. Statler, 50, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the Antelope County courtroom for sentencing on a Class 1 misdemeanor count of domestic assault, cause body injury, committed March 31. He was sentenced to a 12-month term of probation, including related fees totaling $390 and $60 costs of prosecution. In addition to standard terms of probation, Statler was ordered to complete a co-occurring evaluation and to follow recommendations; complete an initial diagnostic interview for Batterer’s I...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Honorable Donna Taylor sentenced three individuals last Wednesday, May 20, in the Antelope County courtroom, while handling a variety of cases, from city nuisance violations and bad checks to violence and drugs. Mitchell B. Heine, 25, appeared for sentencing on two Class 1 misdemeanor counts, attempted possession of cocaine and attempted possession of hydrocodone, committed in May 2019. Taylor sentenced Heine to fines of $1,000 for each crime and $60 costs of prosecution. Heine pleaded guilty to the amended charges Feb. 19 after reaching a...
A 23-year-old Oakdale man, who filed an appeal of his Antelope County conviction of two misdemeanor traffic counts with the Nebraska Supreme Court this past winter, faced the Honorable Donna Taylor again last week. The case found its way to the Nebraska Court of Appeals, where Hill’s appeal was “summarily” dismissed and returned to Taylor with a mandate to sentence. Antelope County was taxed $126 in costs for the appeal. Taylor, on Wednesday, May 20, in the Antelope County courtroom, dismissed the case against Garrett A.H. Hill, due to proce...
The purchase of a refrigerated semi-trailer and the county fund it was paid from were among matters of contention at the Antelope County commissioners' meeting last week. All five commissioners, several other county officials and others were present in the courthouse meeting room May 5 and the meeting was shared electronically via Zoom. Some of those present were asked to step into the hall at one point, when more than 10 were observed in the room. Jared Reimers addressed the commissioners...
Douglas D. Carpenter, 43, of Neligh was resentenced, by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom for a 2017 crime last week. Carpenter admitted violating terms of probation ordered Dec. 19, 2018, pursuant to a plea deal. Johnson revoked probation and sentenced him to 69 days in the county jail on the original count of third-degree assault, committed Sept. 14, 2017, with credit for 30 days previously served. He was remanded to the custody of the Antelope County sheriff to serve the time. The violation stems from Carpe...
Christofer N. Carstens of Oakdale was sentenced to decades behind bars last week. Carstens, who has been in custody since his early June 2019 arrest on felony child abuse charges, after his infant daughter was hospitalized with severe injuries including fractures to her skull and multiple other bones, was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Johnson Wednesday, April 29, in the Antelope County district courtroom. Johnson sentenced Carstens to not less than 30, nor more than 40 years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of...
Douglas D. Carpenter, 43, of Neligh, was sentenced by the Honorable Donna Taylor in Antelope County court last Wednesday, April 15, for a crime committed Aug. 31, 2019, in Neligh. Taylor sentenced him to three days in the Antelope County Jail and a $500 fine and taxed $69.22 costs of prosecution. Carpenter was convicted of a Class 2 misdemeanor, criminal attempt-stalking, after entering a plea deal last month. Carpenter was arrested by Neligh police and charged with three counts Sept. 1, 2019, Count I, stalking, a Class 1 misdemeanor; Count...
