Holt County defendant faces judge in three cases

An Atkinson man was sentenced in two cases, and arraigned in a third, July 26 by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district courtroom in O'Neill.

Darrick E. Nekuda, 43, was sentenced to consecutive jail terms in the Holt County Jail, including 180 days, with credit for 101 days previously served, for his conviction of a Class 3 felony, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, committed Jan 5. He was also sentenced to 60 days, with credit for two days served, for a conviction of a Class 4 felony, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, committed Aug. 26, 2020.

Assuming he loses none of his good time, Nekuda was required to serve 98 days, less 101 days for the Class 3 felony and 38 days, less two days for the Class 4 felony before his mandatory release. He was taxed costs of prosecution of $137 and $147, respectively.

Nekuda was convicted of both crimes April 26, pursuant to a plea bargain with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly. In exchange for Nekuda's guilty plea to possession of a deadly weapon, Kelly dismissed three additional counts, terroristic threats, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, less than one ounce. In exchange for Nekuda's guilty plea on the possession of meth charge, Kelly dismissed a second count of possession a controlled substance, trazadone, along with charges of tampering with evidence, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was remanded to the custody of Holt County sheriff Ben Matchett for execution of sentence.

Nekuda was arrested at an O'Neill laundromat Jan. 5, after multiple parties reported a possible impaired driver, at different locations in the city.

The August 2020 possession of meth charge stems from a probation search conducted by Holt County officers at Nekuda's Atkinson home.

Nekuda was also arraigned, in a separate case, on a charge of delivery of meth, a Class 2 felony alleged Sept. 28, 2020. He entered a written not guilty plea. He had waived his right to preliminary hearing July 20 in the Holt County court and was bound over to the district court. A bond review hearing was held, with bond confirmed at $50,000, 10% cash.

Pretrial hearing is set Oct. 18, bond is continued.

Nekuda is represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith.