Holt County district judge hands down sentences in drug cases

Andy J. Casperson, 41, of Norfolk was sentenced on two counts in the Holt County district court last Monday, Oct. 21.

The Honorable Mark Kozisek ordered Casperson serve two years on probation for Class 4 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and tampering with evidence. The sentence includes fees and costs of $897.

Casperson pleaded no contest to the crimes June 24, per terms of a plea agreement, and was judged guilty by Kozisek. In return for the pleas, Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly dismissed a Class 2 felony count, delivery of a controlled substance, meth. Casperson and three co-defendants were arrested following a search warrant being served in O'Neill on Dec. 7, 2018, by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Two other individuals charged in the case, Tara C. Vaughn, 29, and Andrew Sidak, 32, both of Yankton, South Dakota, were sentenced in July to probation on reduced misdemeanor charges, attempt of a Class 4 felony.

The fourth co-defendant, Rebeca L Hadenfeldt, 37, of O'Neill awaits sentencing in Holt County district court. She pleaded guilty to a Class 4 felony count of possession of meth, after reaching a plea deal with Kelly. In return, three additional Class 4 felony counts, possession of hydrocodone, possession of tramadol and tampering with evidence, were dismissed. She faced the judge for sentencing Oct.7, but was remanded to the custody of the Holt County sheriff when Kozisek discovered she had not complied with an order to obtain a presentence report.

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Kozisek sentenced Kyle R. Boettscher, 30, of Stuart to 18 months of probation for a Class 4 felony count, possession of a controlled substance, lorazepam. He was also ordered to pay $717 costs and fees as well as a $100 fine on a count of possession of drug paraphernalia. A count of theft by receiving stolen property was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Boettscher was arrested after a search warrant was executed by several law enforcement agencies at his Stuart residence Jan. 9.

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Michael R. Tanner, 59, of Grand Island was sentenced to fines of $1,000 each for two Class 3A felony counts of making terroristic threats against a coworker on July 15, 2016, in O'Neill. He was also ordered to pay costs totaling $276.92. Two additional felony counts of using a deadly weapon to commit a crime were dismissed as part of a plea deal. Tanner withdrew a motion in limine, and Kelly dismissed a 2019 charge.