Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 224
Haiden M. Sleister, 18, of Norfolk appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Jan. 5, for pretrial hearing, alongside his court-appointed attorney, Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa. He is charged with third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and willful reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Sleister changed his pleas, pursuant to a plea deal with Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler. In return for Sleister’s guilty or no contest pleas to the two counts, Abler agreed to f...
Three area women faced the Honorable Donna Taylor, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, on Wednesday, Jan. 5, on Class 1 misdemeanor charges stemming from Dec. 1, 2021, compliance checks conducted by Nebraska State Patrol officers with assistance of an 18-year-old male confidential informant. The defendants waived their right to counsel. Lori A. Boelter, 57, of Brunswick pleaded guilty to selling alcohol to the minor at the Royal Bar and Grill, Melanie A. Sheldon, 37, of Neligh pleaded guilty to selling alcohol to him at Casey’s in N...
Andrew J. Stephenson, 20, of Jacksonville, Florida, appeared in the Antelope County court last Wednesday morning, Jan. 5, on a Class 4 felony count, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and two infractions, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, all alleged Dec. 23. Stephenson requested court-appointed counsel. After reviewing his financial information, Judge Donna Taylor indicated the defendant was “borderline” for qualification. She appointed the public defender to represent him, cautioning that whe...
Antelope County commissioners voted unanimously, Tuesday, to amend the salary for the county sheriff. Commissioner Dean Smith was absent from the meeting. Commissioner Carolyn Pedersen told fellow officials she had presented incorrect figures for the position during the board's Dec. 21 meeting and offered corrected salaries at the Jan. 4 meeting. Pedersen said she compared current sheriff salaries in neighboring counties, with base salaries ranging from $63,000 to $74,423, based on data provied...
Approved. Disapproved. Finalized, finally. Those steps led to a Dec. 23 special meeting of the Antelope County commissioners, where a new redistricting map was given the final nod. Commissioners originally approved the district map on Dec. 7; however, a discrepancy was noted in population between two districts. Originally, district three was light and four was heavy, according to county clerk Lisa Payne. "In discussion with the secretar of state's office, (Antelope County Attorney) Joe Abler...
Tyler J. Napier, 33, incarcerated, was sentenced to concurrent 24-month and 12-month terms in prison by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom last week. Napier was convicted, in October, of Count V, terroristic threats, a Class 3 A felony, and Count VI, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Johnson sentenced him to a determinate term of 24 months under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Service on Count V, followed by 18 months post...
Matthew F. Brandt, 34, of Royal again failed to appear in the Antelope County court for sentencing Dec. 15. His attorney, public defender Melissa Figueroa, requested continuance, while Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler objected, asking for a bench warrant. The Honorable Donna Taylor again ordered a warrant for his arrest, less than a month after his arrest for failing to appear Oct. 20. Brandt bonded out of the Antelope County Jail after his Nov. 16 arrest, agreeing to appear for sentencing Dec. 15. Taylor set a new bond at $10,000, 10%...
Ian T. McConkey, 30, of Mankato, Minnesota, faced Antelope County judge Donna Taylor Wednesday, Dec. on 15 at the courthouse in Neligh, on Count I, possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony; Count II, inhaling intoxicating substance, a Class3 misdemeanor; and Count III, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction. McConkey requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor found him indigent, appointed Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa and set preliminary hearing for Jan. 5. Bond posted Nov. 17, in the amount of $20,000,...
Richard C. Jelich Jr., 27, of Neligh, appeared in the Antelope County court in Neligh last week for arraignment on two counts alleged Nov. 29 at 405 N Street in Neligh, disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, a Class 2 misdemeanor. Jelich’s request for continuance to consult an attorney was granted by the Honorable Donna Taylor, with further arraignment set Dec. 15. A bond hearing was held. Taylor reduced bond, from $10,000, 10% cash, to $5,000, 10%, with conditions including no contact with victim. Jelich r...
Amy E. Fergusen, 33, of Royal faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last week, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, on a Class 3A felony count, intentional child abuse, no injury, along with two Class 1 misdemeanor counts, third-degree assault and negligent child abuse, no injury. The crimes allegedly took place Oct. 24. Fergusen requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor found her indigent and appointed public defender Melissa Figueroa. Preliminary hearing is set Dec. 15. After failing to appear in court Nov. 17 and his subsequent arrest by...
William D. Anson, 38, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Dec. 1, alongside his attorney, Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa. Anson, who was transported to court from a Nebraska Department of Corrections facility in Lincoln, was fined $300 and committed to the Antelope County Jail for a term of six months, with credit given for three days previously served. In addition, Taylor ordered restitution paid to Bomgaars, in the amount of $129.99, and taxed...
The bulk of the criminal case calendar was cleared in about one-half hour last Wednesday, Nov. 24, by Antelope County district court officials in the Neligh courtroom. The Honorable Mark Johnson arraigned one defendant on four felony counts and the remaining defendants were granted continuances of their pretrial hearings. Justin M. Golter, 46, of Orchard, faced Johnson for arraignment on charges alleged Aug. 20, 2020 – Count I, possession of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver (two ounces), a Class 1D felony; Count II, possession of m...
Kevin M. Socha, 33, of Elgin faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom Wednesday, Nov. 17, for a pretrial hearing on a count of second-offense driving under the influence of alcohol, .15 grams or more, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea agreement with Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler was announced. Abler amended the charge to second-offense non-aggravated DUI and agreed to recommend a minimum sentence. Socha pleaded guilty to the amended charge. An enhancement hearing was held, with Taylor finding one previous conviction...
The Honorable Donna Taylor cleared three cases from the Antelope County court docket when she presided over the Nov. 17 court session in Neligh, including one dating back to 2014. Joe Wylie, 66, of Cozad, formerly of Ewing, was charged in April 2015 with two felony counts of issuing insufficient-fund or no-account checks (second offense) to Mr. S’s in Oakdale one year earlier. A warrant for Wylie’s arrest, issued in May 2015, was served in Hall County on Nov. 3 of this year. Pursuant to a plea agreement with Antelope County attorney Joe Abl...
Warrants were issued by the Honorable Donna Taylor for two defendants who failed to appear in the Antelope County court last Wednesday, Nov. 17. Angela Flores, of Neligh failed to appear for a bench trial on a City of Neligh junk ordinance violation alleged Aug. 1. Taylor issued a warrant for Flores’ arrest, with a $1,500, 10% bond, after a motion was filed by Joe McNally on behalf of the city. McNally testified Flores had called his office 20 minutes prior to the scheduled trial, indicating she had to work. The attorney alleged he had seen h...
The Honorable Mark Johnson, presiding from the bench in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last week, sentenced two individuals who had previously been convicted pursuant to plea agreements. Hope M. Petite, 27, appeared for sentencing on four counts. On Count II, the most serious of the four, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, Johnson ordered her to spend 180 days in the Antelope County Jail. She was given credit for 56 days served prior to sentencing. Petite was also sentenced to 90 days for Count III, leaving the...
Tyler J. Napier, 31, currently held at the Antelope County Jail, appeared before the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom for a pretrial conference Oct. 27. Napier was accused of, Count I, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 3A felony; Count II, strangulation, a Class 3A felony; Count III, strangulation, a Class 3A felony; Count IV, strangulation, a Class 3A felony; Count V, terroristic threats, a Class 3A felony; and Count IV, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. The alleged crimes took place April 25...
An 18-year-old Oakdale man accused of assaulting an Antelope County road employee Sept. 23, near the Oakdale lagoon, had a felony charge amended to a misdemeanor after the prosecutor reviewed police and medical records. Haiden M. Sleister appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday. A first-degree felony assault charge, alleged Sept. 23 near the Oakdale lagoon was reduced to a Class 1 misdemeanor, third-degree assault. The amended complaint, filed by Antelope County attorney Joe...
Two defendants failed to appear in Antelope County courtroom in Neligh for hearings in criminal cases last Wednesday, Oct. 20. Matthew F. Brandt, 34, of Royal again failed to appear for sentencing. His attorney, public defender Melissa Figueroa, requested continuance, Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler objected. The Honorable Donna Taylor ordered a warrant be issued for his arrest, as she indicated would happen at the time of his previous no show. Brandt was convicted of leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor...
Justin M. Golter, 46, of Orchard faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Oct. 20 for arraignment on four counts alleged Aug. 20, 2020. Golter is accused of a Class 1D felony, possession of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver (two ounces); a Class 4 felony count, possession of meth; and two Class 4 felony counts of theft by receiving stolen property, $1,500 to $5,000. Golter requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor adjudged him indigent and appointed the public defender’s office to represent him. She f...
Martin R. Siems, 47, of Clearwater was sentenced last week by the Honorable Donna Taylor, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, for reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed March 20. Taylor fined Siems $500 and sentenced him to a six-month term of probation, including $220 in probation-related fees and taxed him $50 costs of prosecution. Siems pleaded guilty to the reduced count Oct. 6, pursuant to a plea agreement. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler reduced a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense, and...
A Norfolk woman, who was bound over to Antelope County district court on a felony burglary charge is claiming there was not enough evidence to support the burglary charge. Antelope County public defender Patrick Carney, on behalf of 55-year-old Debra F. Jordan, entered an exhibit as evidence and explained the defense’ motion to the Honorable Mark Johnson last Wednesday. Carney told the judge, as an employee of the convenience store (JB Mart), the defendant had allegedly been given a key and code to the security system, so there was no ...
Matthew F. Brandt, 34, of Royal once again failed to appear in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh for sentencing last Wednesday. Brandt was convicted, June 2, of leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Jan 28 in Orchard. His attorney, public defender Melissa Figueroa, requested continuance, indicating Brandt had been in contact with someone who had Covid-19. Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler objected. The Honorable Donna Taylor continued sentencing to Oct. 20 and ordered Brandt to provide the...
Jackson L. Anderson Jr., 51, of Omaha faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, last Wednesday, for sentencing in a 2018 case. He was fined $300 and assessed $52 costs of prosecution for possession of marijuana, less than one ounce, second offense. Anderson pleaded guilty in December 2018 after reaching a plea deal with county attorney Joe Abler, and an open container count was dropped. He failed to appear for sentencing on three occasions in February and March 2019, and a warrant was issued for his arrest....
If a tree grows in the right of way, along a township road, and needs trimmed or removed, who is responsible for tree trimming? Holt County Supervisors listened to public comment on the topic, Thursday, during a public hearing held in the supervisors' room at the Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill. While the hearing focused on written notices, sent by the county attorney's office, to landowners in Rock Falls Township,the question of responsibility first sprouted earlier this year, when the Emmett...
