Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 201
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
A second felony sexual assault complaint has been filed by deputy Antelope County attorney Joe Smith against a Clearwater man. Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Neligh courtroom Wednesday, Feb. 1 for a preliminary hearing on first-degree sexual assault, a Class 2 felony alleged Christmas night. An oral motion to continue by Mueller’s attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, was granted by Taylor. Mueller also faced the judge for arraignment on another count of first-degree sexual assault, a...
Two defendants were arraigned in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh recently, while, in the wake of a pending winter storm, many either had their appearances continued to February or just didn’t show up. One defendant had his case dismissed. Austin R. Bertschinger, 30, of Oakdale appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Jan. 18 for arraignment on a count of possession of tramadol, a Class 4 felony alleged Dec. 10. Bertschinger requested court-appointed counsel. After holding an indigency hearing, Taylor appointed Antelope C...
Antelope County Commissioners approved a 20% pay increase for the county’s public defender during the board’s Jan. 10 meeting in Neligh. According to deputy county attorney, Joe Smith, the last approved contract expired in 2015. Currently, Patrick Carney, of Norfolk, fills the role for the county and receives $38,000 annually. He reported to commissioners he would like to continue in the position, which is an appointed office. After an analysis, Smith recommended an increase of 20%, or $7,...
Jake R. Short, 22, of Meadow Grove appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County court in Neligh on Jan. 18, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney, to be sentenced for second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed nearly one year ago. Taylor fined Short $200 and assessed $50 costs. Restitution of $433.73 had been paid and a second forgery count was dismissed by deputy Antelope County attorney, Joe Smith, as agreed to by the late county attorney, Joe Abler, in an October 2022 plea agreement....
An elected official from Antelope County died Monday. Joe Abler was elected to serve as Antelope County Attorney in 2010. He was reelected in 2014, 2018 and in the November 2022 election. Madison County Attorney Joe Smith, who also serves as deputy attorney for Antelope County, told SAM, "Joe died about 2:15 Monday afternoon, quietly with his family by his side." A Mass of Christian burial for Abler, 48, of Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 23, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in...
Aaron C. Poellot, 39, of Osmond was sentenced in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 28, for the May 2 theft of gasoline from a Royal convenience store. Poellot appeared, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, before the Honorable Donna Taylor on Wednesday for pretrial hearing on a charge of theft by unlawful taking. Madison County attorney Joe Smith served as prosecutor. A plea agreement was announced, which included Poellot changing his plea to guilty and agreeing to pay restitution, in return for...
The case of a Clearwater teenager, who is accused of making terroristic threats last fall regarding a Summerland Public School bus, has been bound over to Antelope County district court. Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater waived his right to preliminary hearing, on a Class 3A felony count of making terroristic threats, when he appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Dec. 28. Two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace were dismissed, without prejudice, by prosecutor Joe Smith. Fernau’s $25,000, 10% cash, bond is continued. He w...
The last of four young men charged in connection with March 21 break-ins at two Neligh businesses, Neligh Vape Shop and the Fit Stop, appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 21, with the Honorable Mark Johnson presiding. Madison County attorney Joe Smith again represented the State of Nebraska in the stead of Antelope County attorney Joe Abler, who was absent due to illness. Smith told the judge he anticipated being sworn in as deputy Antelope County attorney later Wednesday. Harley Snyder, 20, of Oakdale faced...
Five of seven defendants who were set for arraignment Dec. 7 faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. Two others were truant. Madison County attorney Joe Smith represented the state as prosecutor. Smith said he was covering for Antelope County attorney Joe Abler, who was absent due to illness. “I am not sure how long that illness will last,” Smith said. Roland Hurtig, 61, of Orchard appeared for arraignment on Count I, a Class W misdemeanor, driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense; and two inf...
Antelope County’s planning and zoning board will take a look at current regulations regarding pipelines. On Tuesday, commissioners approved to request the board to meet and adopt similar regulations drafted by Holt County, at a minumum, for pipelines. Commissioner Dean Smith said his motion would give “Summit Carbon Solutions consistent regulations.” During discussion, Smith showed photos illustrating destruction from the Keystone I pipeline spill, south of Steele City, Nebraska. He said the l...
