20-year-old man submits waiver to pot charge after arrest

SANDY SCHROTH

sschroth@

summerlandadvocate.com

San Oo, of Omaha, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, less than one ounce, first offense, committed in September 2020, by waiver.

But the waiver came only after an arrest warrant was served. The warrant was issued after Oo failed to appear Jan. 19.

He was cited by a Holt County deputy Sept. 22, 2020, about four miles west of O’Neill on Highway 20 and was given the option to waiver prior to Nov. 3, 2020, which he failed to do. According to court records, a court hearing was scheduled and he was notified. The warrant was issued after Oo failed to appear for the Jan. 19 hearing

The Honorable Kale Burdick also handed down sentences last week for crimes committed earlier this year.

Michael W. Kraft, 53, of Atkinson appeared for arraignment on a charge of third-degree domestic assault, cause bodily injury to intimate partner, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

He pleaded guilty to an amended charge, third-degree assault, cause injury, a Class 1 misdemeanor, after reaching a plea agreement with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly. There was a joint recommendation for probation and both sides waived a presentence investigation. Burdick sentenced Kraft to an 18-month term of probation, including $570 in probation fees, and he was taxed $49 costs of prosecution.

Kraft was arrested by Holt County officers who responded to a 911 call made by Kraft’s live-in girlfriend during the early morning hours of Jan. 9, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by a county investigator.

Kraft was represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith.

Jared S. Hoerle, 42, of Ewing faced Burdick for sentencing on a Class 1 misdemeanor, violating a court-ordered ignition interlock device order.

Burdick sentenced Hoerle to 18 months of probation, along with related fees totaling $570 and $60 costs. Terms of probation include attendance at two AA meetings per week, obtain sponsor for same, obtain a chemical-dependency evaluation, at his own expense and successfully complete all recommendations made by evaluator.

Hoerle waived his right to counsel. He pleaded guilty to the offense in March and Kelly dismissed a speeding count.

Hoerle was arrested Jan. 29 by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper, who was working traffic enforcement on Highway 281 about four miles north of O’Neill. According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by the trooper, Hoerle was clocked at 85 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone.

According to the affidavit, Hoerle indicated he did not have his license with him. A check of his driving abstract revealed his license was revoked for a driving under the influence conviction and he had an active ignition-interlock-device permit. Hoerle was driving a van registered to Adamson Distributing of O’Neill, which was not equipped with an interlock device.

Xavier W. Hobbs, 19, of Ewing faced Burdick on three counts, Count I, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction; Count II, possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense, also an infraction; and contributing to the delinquency of a child, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Hobbs, who waived his right to counsel, entered guilty pleas to counts I and II, pursuant to a plea deal. In return, Kelly dismissed Count III and agreed to recommend fines.

Burdick fined Hobbs $100 on Count I and $300 on Count II and assessed $49 costs.

Hobbs was cited March 19 by O’Neill police officers.

Hunter R. Cullen, 20, of O’Neill also appeared for arraignment on three counts, Count I, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction; Count II, possession of marijuana, one ounce or less, first offense, also an infraction; and contributing to the delinquency of a child, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Cullen waived his right to counsel. He pleaded guilty to counts I and II, pursuant to a plea deal. In return, Kelly dismissed Count III and agreed to recommend fines.

Burdick fined Cullen $100 on Count I and $300 on Count II and taxed him $49 costs.

Terry A. Kopejtka, 18, of O’Neill faced charges in two cases.

In the first, Kopejtka appeared before Burdick. He waived his right to counsel and pleaded guilty to a Class 3 misdemeanor count, theft by receiving stolen property, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed March 20.

Burdick fined Kopejtka $100 and assessed $50 costs of prosecution.

Kopejtka pleaded guilty, by waiver, to an O’Neill city code violation, possession of tobacco, first offense, an infraction committed March 19. Kopejtka was cited March 20 by O’Neill officers, noting possession of a vape pen and cigarettes.

Jerry D. Beall 2nd, 18, of O’Neill also faced charges in two separate cases.

In the first, appeared before Burdick, waived his right to counsel and pleaded guilty to a Class 3 misdemeanor count, criminal mischief, 0 to $500.

Burdick fined him $25, ordered him to pay $348.82 restitution to Kris Lihr by July 20 and taxed him $50 costs of prosecution.

He pleaded guilty, by waiver, to an O’Neill city code violation, possession of tobacco, first offense, an infraction committed March 19. Cullen was cited March 18 by O’Neill officers, citing possession of a vape pen.

Bryce R. Matson, 24, of O’Neill faced Burdick on a count of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana. He pleaded guilty to the infraction committed March 3 and was fined $300 and taxed $49 costs of prosecution. He was self-represented.