Two stops in four days cost O'Neill man $1,000 in fines

Jose A. Ibarra Ponce, 21, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick, in the Holt County courtroom, for arraignment in two separate cases last Tuesday, April 6.

Ibarra Ponce waived his right to counsel. In the first case, he pleaded guilty to a pair of infraction counts, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense, committed Feb.23. Burdick fined him $100 and $300, respectively, and taxed him $50 costs.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by the arresting O’Neill police officer, Ibarra Ponce had been advised, after he was cited in the first case, not to drive until he obtained a driver’s license and not to drive an unlicensed vehicle. Four days later, the officer observed him driving, leading to his arrest on five counts in the second case.

Ibarra Ponce pleaded guilty to five counts committed Feb. 27, Count I, no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor; Count II, no proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count III, no operator’s license, a Class 3 misdemeanor; Count IV, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction; and possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense.

Burdick fined him a total of $600 and taxed him $50 costs.

Lindsey A. Rokahr, 38, of Ewing appeared for arraignment on six offenses committed Feb. 22. She waived her right to counsel and pleaded guilty to all six counts.

Burdick fined her $100 on Count I, driving under suspension, a class 3 misdemeanor; $100 on Count II, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction; $300 on Count III, possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense, an infraction; $100 on Count IV, no proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor; $25 on Count V, no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and $25 on Count VI, improper/defective vehicle lighting, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and $50 costs.

Rokahr was arrested by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper for the six counts and a Holt County warrant for failure to appear in court. A search of her vehicle resulted in the discovery of a glass pipe and a baggie suspected to contain marijuana. A scale with a white residue was located in Rokahr’s purse. According to the trooper’s probable-cause affidavit, white residue on the scale field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Ross D. Martinez, 55, of Chambers faced Burdick for sentencing.

Burdick fined Martinez $500 and assessed $50 costs of prosecution for a Class 1 misdemeanor count, false reporting, committed Feb. 14.

Martinez pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea deal with Holt County prosecutor, Brent Kelly. In return Kelly dismissed a Class 2 misdemeanor count, nonresident violate revoked/impound order related to a revoked Colorado driver’s license.

Martinez was stopped by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper for pulling a trailer without working taillights, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by the officer. Martinez was unable to provide documents requested by the trooper and provided a false name and date of birth. The officer determined his identity and that he had a revoked license in Colorado.

Martinez was represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith.

Kaley M. Hoffman, 25, of O’Neill appeared for sentencing on two counts, Count I, driving under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and Count II, possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense, an infraction.

Burdick sentenced Hoffman to two days in the Holt County Jail on Count 1 and a $300 fine on Count II, in addition to $50 costs of prosecution.

Hoffman pleaded guilty to the Oct. 19, 2020, offenses, pursuant to a Dec. 15, 2020, plea agreement with Kelly. Count I was reduced from a Class 2 misdemeanor, driving under revocation.

She waived her right to counsel.

Maria I. Granados, 47, of O’Neill pleaded guilty by waiver in two cases. The first case included two infraction counts committed March 19, dog running at large and failing to file rabies certificate. She was fined $20 and $25, respectively, and $49 costs.

In the second case, Granados pleaded guilty to allowing a dog to run at large March 28. She was fined $20 and $49 costs.