Oakdale man to spend up to 16 years in prison

Wesley D. Hattula, 21, formerly of Oakdale, who had spent the previous nine plus months locked up in the Antelope County Jail on a $100,000, 10% cash bond, faced the Honorable Mark Kozisek for sentencing on two felonies last Wednesday.

Johnson sentenced Hattula, to a term of not more than 16 years, nor less than 10 years, in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, on Count I, incest with person under 18, a Class 2A felony, giving him credit for 279 days previously served. On Count III, possession of child pornography, also a Class 2A felony, Johnson ordered a prison term of five to 10 years, to be served concurrent to the term ordered on Count I. He is subject to requirements of the Nebraska Sexual Offender Registration Act. The $147 cost of prosecution was waived.

Hattula was remanded to Antelope County sheriff Robert Moore’s custody, for transport to Lincoln.

Hattula pleaded guilty to the April 21, 2020, crimes on Nov. 25, 2020, after his attorney, Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, negotiated a plea agreement with Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler. In return, Count II, a Class 1 felony, manufacture of child pornography, was dismissed by Abler.

The maximum penalty for each of the convictions was 20 years imprisonment, while the dismissed charge carried a possible sentence of 50 years.

Johnson also sentenced a Neligh man last week.

Ronald E. Frazier, 48, was sentenced to 364 days in the Antelope County Jail, for committing a Class 3 felony, terroristic threats. He was given credit for the 194 days served prior to sentencing.

Frazier was ordered to appear at the sheriff’s office at 8 a.m. the following morning, for execution of the sentence, at which time bond was to be exonerated. Bond, in the amount of $5,000, 10% cash, had been modified to personal recognizance Nov. 30, to allow Frazier to attend in-patient treatment at a Norfolk facility.

Frazier must also serve 18 months post-release supervision, including $570 probation-related fees. Terms of supervision include requirements to, at his own expense, continue counseling and Mental health treatment until such treatment is deemed unnecessary by his probation officer or treating physician; obtain an alcohol/drug evaluation and successfully complete recommendations; attend and successfully complete an approved crime victim’s impact class and other specialized programs as required by probation officer.

He was assessed $147 costs of prosecution.

The crime was committed July 6, 2020, at Sly’s Family Bar and Grill in Neligh, when Frazier threatened a man who was working on a piece of equipment. Frazier was also accused of throwing a beer bottle, causing a laceration to the man’s face, and a fight allegedly ensued outside the business, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by a Neligh police officer.

Frazier changed his plea to guilty Oct. 28, pursuant to a plea agreement. In return, Abler agreed to file no additional charges in the case.