Chambers man graduates drug court

A 27-year-old Chambers man graduated from Holt County’s drug court June 28. His reward for sticking it out for five years – dismissal of five 2016 felony charges.

Austin Root entered the North Central Problem-Solving Court on June 27, 2016, entering guilty pleas to five Class 2A felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana).

He had been arrested after five purchases of the drug by confidential informants on four different days in February 2016.

The first was made in O’Neill and the remaining four transactions took place outside Root’s Chambers residence.

He had more than a dozen hiccups requiring sanctions during the ensuing four years, the last violation reported a year ago in June.

Court officer Ross Tomjack deemed successful completion of the program June 22 and requested the charges be dismissed. Holt County attorney Brent Kelly offered an oral motion during court proceedings June 28, asking for dismissal, with prejudice. The Honorable Mark Kozisek granted the motion and the case was dismissed.