Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 16 of 16
Koda Fernau, 20, of Neligh was an 18-year-old Summerland High School student when he made comments on a school bus and at a Neligh workplace in September 2022, comments that resulted in his arrest on a felony terroristic threat charge. According to arrest affidavits, while riding on a Summerland bus Sept. 2, 2022, Fernau commented about purchasing a firearm and, while at work on Sept. 9, threatened to “shoot up” a Summerland bus. Fernau pleaded guilty early this year to a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault (threaten another in...
Several defendants either admitted to committing crimes or allowed themselves to be found guilty by pleading no contest when they faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Jan. 31, Plea bargains with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith were announced in five cases, with defendants set for sentencing March 27. Koda Fernau, 19, of Stanton appeared with his court-appointed attorney, Ryan Stover, of Norfolk, charged with a Class 3A felony, terroristic threats, related to . He pleaded guilty to...
Rider C. Short, 23, in front of the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Nov. 29, alongside his attorney, Fred Bartell of Norfolk. Short was set for pretrial hearing on Count I, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony, and Count II, as amended in October, unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle, a Class 3 misdemeanor, both alleged July 4 in downtown Neligh. Kube set the case for a bench trial at 9 a.m. Feb. 5. Bond is continued, in the amount of $20,000, 10%. *** Several other pending...
Jay L. Herrera, 22, of Vermillion, South Dakota, failed to appear in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last week for a pretrial hearing on a charge of making terroristic threats, a Class 3 felony alleged June 7 in Neligh. His court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, asked the judge to continue the hearing. Klein said he had no way to contact his client but he had talked to the defendant’s “now ex-girlfriend,” who told him Herrera has no phone. Smith objected. The Honorable James Kube denied the request, revoked Herre...
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...
Jake Short, 23, of Oakdale appeared in front of the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on July 26 for a pretrial hearing on a charge of possession of cocaine. A plea agreement was announced, with Short pleading guilty to two counts included in an amended information, attempted possession of cocaine and theft by unlawful taking, $500-$1,499, both Class 1 misdemeanors. Short faces up to one year incarceration and/or up to a $1,000 fine on each count. The deal also included agreement by Short to pay...
The Honorable James Kube, while presiding from the bench in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on May 31, sustained requests for continuances of pretrial hearings and jury trials made on behalf of seven defendants. Cases continued include: • Ryan Brummels, 22, of Ewing, represented by Frederick Bartell of Norfolk; charged with first-degree sexual assault of a minor, a Class 2 felony alleged Dec. 26, 2022; pretrial hearing and possible hearings on other motions continued to June 28, with jury trial remaining on the Aug. 21 d...
An Orchard man, who has spent most of 2023 in the county jail, was sentenced to specialized probation by a district court judge last week - along with time already served and restitution. Michael D. Fox, 37, appeared before the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on April 26 for sentencing on two counts, terroristic threats, a Class 3A felony, and criminal mischief, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Fox was accompanied by his court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh. Kube reviewed a presentence investigation...
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...
The case of a Clearwater teenager, who is accused of making terroristic threats last fall regarding a Summerland Public School bus, was arraigned in the Antelope County district court last week by the Honorable James Kube. Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater faced Kube on Jan. 25, alongside his court-appointed attorney, Ryan Stover of Norfolk. He entered a not guilty plea to a count of making terroristic threats and requested jury trial. If convicted of the Class 3A felony, Fernau faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and/or a...
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...
Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Dec. 6, beside his court-appointed attorney Ryan Stover of Norfolk, for a status hearing on a felony count of making terroristic threats and for arraignment on two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace. Stover asked for a continuance, “not out very far…Koda has been in the Antelope County Jail since September.” He then asked for review of Fernau’s $25,000, 10% bond. “I am sure he would like to be home with his family for Christmas. His mom agreed to...
Simon M. Beacom, 20, of Omaha appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday for pretrial conference on two Class 3 misdemeanor counts alleged June 24, minor in possession of alcohol (age 19/20) and misrepresenting his age to obtain liquor, as well as a count of violating probation that was ordered for his conviction of similar offenses last spring. On his behalf, his attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, asked Taylor to set a bench trial date, indicating Beacom waived his right to jury...
A Sioux City, Iowa, couple, Brent A. Jonas, 45, and Christina M. Jonas, 37, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Oct. 5, for first hearings on felonies. They are each facing two counts alleged Sept. 18, Count I, a Class 2A felony, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and Count II, a Class 4 felony, possession of methamphetamine. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison on Count I and up to two years and/or a fine up to $10,000 on Count II. Preliminary hearings are set...
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...
Clearwater Public School and Orchard Public School announced students who qualified for the principal's honor roll and honor roll for the third quarter of the 2019-2020 school year. Students named to the Clearwater principal's honor roll include Jackie Olivan, Hunter Klabenes, Eli Thiele, Jacob Behnk, Aislynn Kester, Adyson Mlnarik and Kelsey Schlecht. Avery Cheatum, Kaci Wickersham, Mason Hoke, Madison Melcher, Hadley Cheatum, Levi Cronk, Gunnar Shabram, Ashley Melcher, Carter Bergman, Sam...
