Orchard woman faces multiple charges

Hope M. Petite, 27, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County Court, for arraignment on five counts alleged

June 27 in Orchard, Count I, second-degree assault, a Class 2A felony; Count II, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor; Count III, leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and counts IV and V, willful reckless driving, Class 3 misdemeanors. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years on Count I; up to a $1,000 fine and/ or six months in jail on Count II, up to $1,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail and up to one year revocation of driver’s license on Count III; and fines of up to $500 and/or up to 90 days of jail and revocation of license between 30 days and one year, each for counts IV and V.

Petite waived her right to preliminary hearing and was bound over to Antelope County district court on the felony count.

The four misdemeanors were dismissed by Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler, without prejudice, to be refiled in district court, where arraignment was set July 28.

A bond review hearing was held. Petite’s court-appointed attorney requested personal recognizance bond on her behalf.

Abler objected, citing pending drug charges in Holt County and pending charges in Pierce County, where she had posted bond. Taylor said PR bond was not appropriate, before reducing bond from $30,000 to $10,000, 10% cash. If bond is posted, Taylor ordered the defendant is not to drive for any reason and is not to have any contact with her mother, her minor child nor the child’s father, without an order from Holt County district court or Holt County juvenile court. Martin Klein of Neligh is Petite’s attorney of record in all three counties. She was remanded to sheriff Robert Moore’s custody, pending posting of bond.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Moore, Petite was under court order for visits with her daughter - to be supervised by her mother. At the residence where she lives with her mother, she allegedly ignored her mother’s objection, placed the child in her vehicle, not in a child restraint, put the car in reverse and nearly backed over her mother, who attempted to stop her. She allegedly returned to the home about one-half hour later without the child and refused to divulge her whereabouts.

The child’s father parked his vehicle behind Petite’s to prevent her from leaving. She allegedly ran into it, while he was inside, and drove across the lawn to flee the residence. Moore was subsequently able stop her and she continued to refuse revelation of the child’s location. In the interim, a relative located the child and she was returned to her father. Moore transported Petite to the county jail, where marijuana was allegedly found during book in.