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Robert J. Suhr, 24, of Elgin, faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh, on Dec. 20 for pretrial on two charges, Count I, child abuse, a Class 3A felony, and Count II, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea agreement with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith was announced and Kube re-arraignmed Suhr on charges in a new complaint filed by Smith, specific to Count I, child abuse/neglect, a Class 1 misdemeanor that carries a penalty up to one year imprisonment and/or up to a $1,000...
Christopher W. Robinett, 21, of Neligh appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 20 for sentencing on two counts committed Aug. 6, burglary of a pickup from Carhart Lumber Co. in Neligh, and driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense, as well as resentencing on a 2022 conviction of attempted burglary of the Neligh Vape Shop and Fit Stop. The Honorable James Kube sentenced Robinett to three prison terms, to be served consecutive to each other. In the Carhart burglary case, Robinett was sentenced to serve...
The Honorable Donna Taylor handled several arraignments when she presided from the bench in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 6. Jeremy J. Warnke, 49, of Neligh appeared for arraignment on a charge of third-degree assault. Conviction of the Class 1 misdemeanor would have resulted in up to $1,000 fine and/or up to one-year incarceration. The charge was reduced to a Class 2 misdemeanor, assault by mutual consent, pursuant to a plea agreement with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith. The Class 2 misdemeanor carried the same potential...
Three defendants, charged with Neligh city and Oakdale village ordinance violations had their day in county court last week. Appearing in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor at the courthouse in Neligh on Dec. 6, Linda Mack of Elgin appeared for sentencing and an abatement order on an offense of maintaining a dangerous building on the west half of lots 10, 11 and 12, Block 197, in Neligh. Prosecutor, Neligh city attorney James McNally, indicated Mack had recently contacted the Neligh Volunteer Fire Department about burning the house as a...
Kegan J. McAllister, 19, of Tilden faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 6 for pretrial hearing on a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea agreement was announced. McAllister pleaded guilty, as charged, to a count of third-degree domestic assault committed July 6. In return, Antelope County attorney Joe Smith agreed to file no additional charges related to the incident and will make no recommendation at sentencing. Carney informed the judge that McAllister is set for sentencing in Madison County district cour...
The Honorable James Kube, presided from the bench in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Nov. 29. Morgan K. Anson, 25, appeared for sentencing on three crimes committed Dec. 9, 2022, Count I, theft by receiving stolen property valued between $1,500 and $5,000, a Class 4 felony; Count II, attempted possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and Count III, use of a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Antelope County public defender Pat Carney asked for a probation sentence. He...
Richard C. Jelich Jr., 28, of Norfolk appeared in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Nov. 15, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney, for sentencing on a count of third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor committed June 14 at a Neligh residence. Carney told the Honorable Donna Taylor that Jelich has motivation to succeed at probation. “He has a decent handle on where he is and where he wants to go,” the attorney said. Jelich apologized for his behavior, saying he accepted full responsibility. Taylor showed some ske...
Austin Bertschinger, 30, of Omaha appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Nov. 15, to explain why he hadn’t paid a fine and costs ordered Aug. 2, for a December 2022 crime. He said he had lost his job. A time-payment warrant had been issued Nov. 8, after he failed to appear in court on Nov. 1. He was arrested Nov. 14 in Lancaster County and transported to Neligh. He posted 10% of a $1,500 bond. Taylor amended the bond to a $150 cash bond and applied it to his unpaid balance. She gave him u...
Gerald C. Strackbein, 32, of O’Neill appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick on Nov. 7, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill, for sentencing on a count of first-degree criminal trespassing. Burdick sentenced Strackbein to a 12-month term of probation, including $390 in fees, and taxed him $62 costs for the July 17 crime. Strackbein pleaded no contest Sept. 19, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. In return Kelly dismissed a count of attempted burglary. According to an arrest affidavit filed by an O’N...
A charge against a Clearwater man was dismissed by Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith on Oct. 25. Zane Herley, 23, of Clearwater, was set for pretrial hearing Nov. 1 and trial Nov. 17 in the Antelope County court, on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor (allegedly provided a Jell-O alcohol shot to 18-year-old minor), a Class 1 misdemeanor alleged June 24 in Clearwater. According to a document filed by Smith, the reason for dismissal was that law enforcement did not preserve the evidence. Smith also dismissed a minor in...
A Neligh couple, whose June 29 argument became physical, were each sentenced to seven days in jail for counts of third-degree assault, by mutual consent. Plea agreements had been negotiated with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith by the respective court-appointed attorneys for Melissa A. Murberger, 48, represented by Martin Klein of Neligh, and Ronald E. Murberger, 48, represented by public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk. The agreement included staggered jail sentences so one of them would be available to care for their children and Smith’s a...
Ryan Brummels, 22, of Ewing, changed his plea to guilty to first-degree sexual assault when he appeared in front of the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last week. Brummels, who is represented by Frederick Bartell of Norfolk, appeared Oct. 25 for pretrial hearing on the charge, a Class 2 felony committed Dec. 26, 2022. A plea agreement was announced. In exchange for Brummels agreement to plead guilty, Antelope County attorney Joe Smith agreed to make no recommendation at sentencing and to file no...
The Honorable James Kube handed two defendants, who had been convicted of two misdemeanor counts apiece after accepting plea deals in August, concurrent 18-month probation sentences during the Oct. 25 session of Antelope County district court at the courthouse in Neligh. They were also informed of their right to petition the court to have their convictions set aside after successful completion of their probation. Jordan Knievel, 22, of Neligh faced Kube for sentencing on two Class 1 misdemeanors, third-degree assault and obstruction of a peace...
While neighboring state's officials wait to make decisions on permits for a proposed carbon-capture pipeline, Antelope County Planning and Zoning Commission members voted 6-1 to approve a conditional use permit for Summit Carbon Solutions. Bob Krutz cast the lone vote to deny the permit when the commission reconvened, Oct. 12. A public hearing for the CUP was originally held Sept. 14. During discussion after the hearing, commission members voted to continue the meeting to Oct. 5. At that...
"In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate, yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories." You could almost hear the most famous two lines from TV's crime drama "Law and Order" before the case of Bill E. Kid began, Oct. 5, at the Antelope County Courthouse. The mock trial is a yearly tradition during County Government Day. Kid is accused of drinking at a party...
Whether or not Antelope County Planning and Zoning Commission approves a conditional use permit for a proposed carbon-capture pipeline will wait until Thursday, at the earliest. The group is set to reconvene, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m., in the commissioners' meeting room, to discuss approval or to deny the permit. Public comment will not be heard since that portion of the process closed when the commission met Sept. 14. Chairman Greg Wortman said he had been contacted by a member of the public who...
Shane A. Sleister, 49, of Oakdale faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope Count courtroom in Neligh on Oct. 4, for arraignment on two counts, Count I, resisting arrest, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and Count II, driving under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor. If convicted, Sleister faces up to a $1,000 fine and/or one year incarceration on Count I and up to $500/90 days on Count II. Sleister requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney and set further arraignment Nov. 1. Bond is continued,...
Linda Mack of Elgin appeared for trial on five counts of violating Neligh’s dangerous building ordinance last week in the Antelope County courtroom. Mack had waived her right to counsel and pleaded not guilty, when she was arraigned Aug. 2, to a single count of maintaining a dangerous building in the city, alleged “on or about the 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9th day of June.” In the meantime, on Aug. 16, Neligh city attorney James McNally filed an amended complaint, separating the charge to five individual counts. After hearing testimony and revie...
"It's bumpy, it's dusty and it's horrible." That's how Clearwater resident Chellie Dixon described an approximate 100-yard section of East Nebraska Street, when talking with Antelope County Commissioners, Tuesday, that county road crew members "ground down" in 2020, According to Antelope County road boss, Aaron Boggs, county officials spoke with Clearwater trustees that year to discuss plans about that particular stretch of road and 516 Avenue, from Highway 275, north to the first bridge. The...
A man accused of a high-speed flight and crash on a stolen Polaris Razor in downtown Neligh, following the city’s 150th birthday/Old Mill Days celebration, had another felony charged added last week. Rider C. Short, 23, of Oakdale faced the Honorable James Kube on Sept. 27, for pretrial hearing on Count I, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony bound over from county court and Count II that was direct filed in district court last month, theft by unlawful taking, greater than $5,000, a Class 2A felony; as well as a...
A Randolph man was recently sentenced to serve one year in the Antelope County Jail and fined $1,000 for his latest conviction of domestic assault Brennon J. Coleman, 39, previously of Neligh, was given credit for 15 days already served and was taxed $204.71 costs of prosecution when he faced the Honorable James Kube on Sept. 27. During the sentencing hearing, Coleman, who had pleaded no contest in July, contended he had not hit the victim. When asked by the judge if he recalled the incident, he answered, “Absolutely.” And, when asked why, he...
Two Antelope County women saw their felony district court cases resolved Sept. 27 by plea agreements when they faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh. Kaitlyn C. Dozler, 23, of Norfolk faced Kube for pretrial hearing on a Class 2A felony count, fourth-offense driving under the influence of alcohol, .15 grams or more. Dozler changed her plea to guilty and Antelope County attorney Joe Smith agreed to file no additional charges in the case. An enhancement hearing was held, with Kube finding Dozler’s prev...
Christopher W. Robinett, 20, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Sept 6, set for preliminary hearing on a Class 2A felony burglary charge. Robinett, accompanied by his court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, waived his right to the preliminary hearing and Taylor bound the case over to the Antelope County district court, where he is set for arraignment Sept. 27. Bond is continued, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash. Shane L. Krebs, 52, of Clearwater faced Taylor for sentencing...
The Honorable Donna Taylor, presiding from the bench in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Sept. 6, denied both a prosecution motion to revoke bond and an alleged victim's request to amend the bond conditions. Robert J. Suhr, 26, of Elgin faced Taylor, alongside his attorney, Brad Ewalt of Norfolk, on a child abuse charge. If convicted of the Class 3A felony, Suhr faces up to three years in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine. He requested preliminary hearing, which Taylor set for Oct....
Taylor Schwager, 36, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh, Aug.30, with his attorney, Ron Temple. Taylor was charged with violating provisions of his post-release supervision. Temple asked for continuance, telling the judge he expected resolution by dismissal. He said no charges had yet been filed in Lancaster County for an alleged DUI. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith did not object. “I anticipate dismissal,” he said. Kube continued arraignment to Sept. 27, unless the...