Norfolk man sentenced on seven Holt County charges

Christian J. Peterson, 20, of Norfolk faced the Honorable Kale Burdick last Tuesday, Jan. 12, for sentencing on seven counts.

Burdick sentenced Peterson to 18 months’ probation for Count I, attempted possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 misdemeanor; Count II, reckless driving, first offense, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and Count III, theft of lost property, also a Class 3 misdemeanor. In addition, Peterson was sentenced to a $250 fine and two days in the Holt County Jail, with credit for one day previously served, on Count V, minor in possession alcohol, ages 19-20, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and fines for three infraction counts, Count VI, possession of drug paraphernalia, $100; Count VII, possession of open alcohol container, $50; and Count VIII, driving left of center, $25.

He was assessed $60 costs of prosecution and $570 probation-related fees. As part of his probation, Peterson was ordered to obtain a chemical dependency evaluation from an accredited agency at his own expense and follow all recommendations, as well as attend one AA meeting per week and complete various classes.

In return for Peterson’s guilty pleas, Count 1 was reduced from a Class 4 felony, possession of a controlled substance (four commercially packaged concentrated THC items), and Count IV, no proof of financial responsibility, was dismissed by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly, pursuant to a Nov. 30, 2020, plea agreement.

Peterson was arrested by city police officers in O’Neill on Oct. 24, 2020. Count III was in relation to the defendant’s possession of an expired driver’s license belonging to another individual, that he claimed to have previously found on the ground near a Norfolk bar.

Matthew S. Spencer, 27, of Bristow pleaded guilty, by waiver, to two infraction counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, a glass pipe and a digital scale.

He was fined $100 on each count and assessed $49 costs. He was cited Sept. 17, 2020, by O’Neill officer on Highway 281, north edge of O’Neill.

A count of possession of marijuana, third offense, was dismissed by Kelly.

Carroll E. Shaffer, 50, of Emerson, Iowa, pleaded guilty, by waiver, to five counts. He was also charged $49 costs.

Shaffer was cited Jan. 7 by a Nebraska State Patrol carrier enforcement officer after he bypassed the Highway 275 scale.

He was fined $50 for Count I, fail to stop and weigh, a Class 3 misdemeanor; $25 for Count II, reciprocity - no trip permit, a Class 3 misdemeanor; $100 for Count III, failure to have or carry fuel permit, a Class 4 misdemeanor; $100 for Count IV, no unified carrier registration, a Class 4 misdemeanor; and $100 for Count V, commercial motor vehicle hours of service log not current, a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Donald R. Spoor, 58, of Holly, Michigan, pleaded guilty, by waiver, and was fined $25 and $49 costs for violating an O’Neill haul permit. He was cited Dec. 11 by an NSP carrier enforcement officer, near Cubby’s in O’Neill.

Troy A. Reiser, 42, of O’Neill pleaded guilty, by waiver, to an O’Neill city ordinance violation, dog running at large. He was fined $50 and assessed $49 costs for the Nov. 20, 2020, infraction.