Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 224
Antelope County attorney Joe Abler filed a complaint Oct. 3, in the Antelope County court, charging Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater with a felony count of making terroristic threats, along with two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace, alleged between Sept. 2 and Sept. 9, at locations including a Summerland Public School bus, the school and his former place of employment. The Honorable Donna Taylor, on Sept. 14, set bond at $25,000, 10%, with terms for no contact with the school. She...
Jill K. Anson, 41, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Sept. 7, for arraignment on one count, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor alleged Aug. 24, in Orchard. A plea agreement was announced by her court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler amended the complaint to assault by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor, agreed to file no additional charges and recommended a fine only at sentencing. Anson entered a guilty...
Michael F. Doty, 29, of Page faced the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Aug. 31 for arraignment on two Class 3A felony counts of making terroristic threats and a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, all alleged June 28 in Orchard, following a residential fire in Page. If convicted, Doty faces up to $10,000 fines and/or three years of incarceration for each of the felony counts and up to a $500 fine and/or 90 days for the misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty and requested jury trial....
Tori A. Wooters, 26, York, appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Aug. 31 for sentencing on counts of possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, and criminal attempt - tampering with physical evidence, a Class 1 misdemeanor, both committed Jan. 19. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler said Wooters was currently incarcerated at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, York, on a conviction out of Madison County. Her attorney, public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, asked Johnson to order any imprisonment to...
Five defendants showed up at the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, either late or not at all for scheduled hearings in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Sept. 7. Lisa M. Dugal, 56, of Neligh appeared approximately an hour late, for resentencing on a crime committed in 2019. Her court-appointed attorney, Kyle Peterson of Tilden, appeared at 11 a.m., the time Dugal was scheduled, and told the judge he had correspondence from his client that she would be in the courtroom in “nine minutes.” She arrived just before noon. Taylor revoked pro...
Several cases that came before the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last week were resolved by plea agreements with Antelope County attorney Joe Abler. Sammie M. Diaz, 44, of Clovis, New Mexico, appeared with his attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, for pretrial hearing on a Class 3 felony, theft, more than $1,500. Klein announced the plea deal. Diaz pleaded guilty to the charge as alleged. In return, Abler agreed to file no additional charges related to the case and to recommend probation or 360 days in...
A 47-year-old Orchard man, who had been released from jail after posting 10% of a $50,000 bond in November 2021, was back in custody shortly after his case was heard in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Justin M. Golter pleaded guilty to a Class 1D felony, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, pursuant to a plea deal with Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler. In return, Abler dismissed three Class 4 felony allegations, possession of a controlled substance and two counts of theft by...
Lisa M. Dugal, 56, of Neligh, accompanied by her court-appointed attorney, Kyle Peterson, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Aug. 17, for sentencing on a probation violation. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler asked the judge to look at a probation update, to note the number of missed probation/testing appointments. He said she hadn’t showed up since July, or maybe June. He reminded Taylor that Dugal’s false report to Neligh police officers caused the man she resided with to spend tim...
Should ballots cast in Antelope County elections be counted by hand instead of by machine? Members of the Antelope County Patriots filled the Antelope County commissioners' meeting room, Aug 9, to discuss those questions and other election procedures. Sheryl Baker approached the board and yielded her time to Professor David Clements, of New Mexico, and Connie Reinke with the Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project. Clements introduced himself as a former law professor at New Mexico State University, a...
Antelope County Commissioners tackled multiple agenda items when they met in regular session, Aug. 2, in Neligh. One promotional and one improvement grant request were approved. A promotional grant request for $242.50 was received from the Orchard Community Club. Funds were used for Orchard Free Celebration Days. Commissioner Eli Jacob moved to accept the request; commissioner Dean Smith made the second. All voted in favor. The second grant request was an improvement grant for $1,750 from Oakdal...
Matthew J. Wright, 48, of Oakdale appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week for arraignment on three counts alleged July 2 in Oakdale, child abuse, a Class 3A felony, and two counts of first-degree assault, Class 1 misdemeanors. A bond review hearing was held. Taylor reduced Wright’s bond, from $25,000, 10% cash, to $10,000, 10%, with condition for no contact, directly nor indirectly, with his stepchildren. She also required him to obtain written permission to “live with any...
An Alliance woman made an unsuccessful attempt to fight a speeding ticket in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Aug. 3. Jane E. Fletcher, 55, faced the Honorable Donna Taylor for trial on an infraction charge of exceeding the posted speed limit by 25 miles per hour. Fletcher, who was self-represented, testified for the defense and Nebraska State Patrol trooper Mora Tighe was called to the witness stand for the prosecution. Taylor found the defendant guilty and fined her $200 and taxed her $49 costs. In a July 1 written not...
Michael F. Doty, 29, of Page faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Aug. 3 for further arraignment on two Class 3A felony counts of making terroristic threats and a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, all alleged June 28 in Orchard, following a residential fire in Page. Doty waived his right to preliminary hearing and was bound over to Antelope County district court, where he is set for arraignment Aug. 31 on the two felonies. The misdemeanor count was dismissed by Antelope County attorney...
The Honorable Mark Johnson presided over the Antelope County district court through videoconference last Wednesday, July 27, sentencing two defendants and ordering a warrant be issued for a third who did not appear for sentencing as ordered. William L. Knievel appeared in the Neligh courtroom to be sentenced on four counts committed March 29 near the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center in Neligh. Johnson rejected both a recommendation included in a presentence report prepared by the Nebraska...
Michael F. Doty, 29, of Page faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County court in Neligh last Wednesday, July 6, on two Class 3A felony counts of making terroristic threats and a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, all alleged June 28 in Orchard. If convicted of the crimes, Doty faces up to $10,000 fines and/or three years of incarceration for each of the felony counts and up to a $500 fine and/or 90 days for the misdemeanor. Doty requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender...
Tyson A. Belitz, 23, of Neligh appeared in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, July 6, alongside his attorney, Jeff Doerr of Neligh. He faced the Honorable Donna Taylor for arraignment on a Class 3 misdemeanor, reckless driving, first offense, committed June 4 in Neligh. Belitz pleaded guilty. He faces up to a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail and up to a one-year revocation of his driver’s license. Taylor questioned Belitz about the offense, asking if alcohol was involved. Belitz admitted he had consumed alcohol. The j...
Darryl Lierman, 55, who is serving what could be called a life sentence at the Nebraska Department of Corrections penitentiary in Tecumseh for the sexual assault and abuse of his adopted daughter, was back in the Neligh courtroom last Wednesday, June 29. The Honorable Mark Johnson, earlier in June, ordered Lierman be transported to the Antelope County Jail the previous day and returned to Tecumseh after the hearing. Lierman sat in front of the Antelope County District Court judge with his court-appointed attorney, Mike Moyer of Madison, asking...
The Honorable Donna Taylor granted continuance in two felony cases when she presided from the Antelope County court bench in Neligh last Wednesday. Jessy L Dirks, 30, of Elgin appeared for further arraignment on a two-count complaint, Count I, a Class 3A felony, strangulation, and Count II, a Class I misdemeanor, third-degree domestic assault, both alleged May 25, in Elgin. Dirks appeared without counsel, despite his request for continuance when he appeared June 1, to consult one. He told Taylor he was unable to retain an attorney and...
A juvenile male, one of four individuals charged in break-ins at the Fit Stop and the Neligh Vape Shop during the early morning hours of March 21, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor for adjudication on June 1 with his court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh. The juvenile admitted two of three counts, one count of burglary and a count of theft, $1,500-$4,999. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler dismissed a second burglary charge. The juvenile was also adjudicated for violation of probation that had been ordered in two 2021...
The Honorable Mark Johnson sentenced two defendants last week when he presided from the bench in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh. Casandra L. Howell, 38, of Trinidad, Colorado, was sentenced for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, to an 18-month term of probation, including a $30 enrollment fee and $90 in drug-testing fees. Programing fees of $450 were waived by the judge. Terms of probation also include 90 days in the county jail, less credit for 19 days previously served, the balance to be served prior to...
An inmate at the Antelope County Jail, who was recently evaluated by a mental health professional, has been found competent to stand trial. Steven H. Habegger, 18, appeared in Antelope County district court, with his attorney, Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, for the third time. He was arraigned on four counts, a Class 3A felony, child abuse, alleged Feb. 10 at a Neligh motel, along with three Class 1 misdemeanors, contributing to delinquency of a child, debauching a minor and cruel mistreatment of an animal. Habegger...
The Honorable Mark Johnson found three defendants guilty, when he presided over Antelope County district court Wednesday, May 25, in Neligh. Andrew F. Sternberg, 32, of Creighton faced Johnson for pretrial hearing on two Class 2A felony counts, theft by unlawful taking, more than $5,000, and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, more than $5,000. Sternberg pleaded guilty to Count II, pursuant to a plea agreement with Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler, who dismissed the theft charge and agreed to recommend probation at...
Xavier W. Hobbs, 20, of Ewing appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday, May 18, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. He was set for pretrial hearing on two counts, Count I, willful reckless driving, first offense; and Count II, minor in possession of alcohol, age19/20, both Class 3 misdemeanors. A plea agreement was announced. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler reduced Count I to reckless driving, still a Class 3 misdemeanor, and Hobbs pleaded guilty to both counts. Taylor sentenced Hobbs to 15 days in the Antelope...
Pepper W. Marchant, 23, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom May 18 for a violation of probation hearing and a request to waive an upcoming jail sanction. Marchant requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor found him indigent and appointed Antelope County public defender Patrick Carney of Norfolk. The case is continued to June 1. Information to revoke probation, filed by Antelope County attorney Joe Abler on May 16, alleges Marchant violated a condition of probation to refrain from unlawful conduct, when...
Michael R. Braband, 27, of Elgin appeared in Antelope County court in Neligh on May 18. He is charged with five felony counts of issuing bad checks in 2021. Braband requested continuance to consult attorney. Taylor continued arraignment to June 15. Bond posted April 16, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash, was continued. A warrant issued for Braband’s arrest March 31, was served April 16. A complaint filed by Antelope County attorney Joe Abler alleges Braband issued insufficient-fund or no-account checks totaling $572.23, between Jan. 26 and F...
