Inman man sentenced to county jail on drug charge

Nathan L. Carlson, 40, of Inman appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Tuesday, July 20, to be sentenced on three counts.

He was sentenced to 65 days in the Holt County Jail for criminal attempt of possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 misdemeanor, with credit given for one day previously served. The jail sentence was suspended until 8 a.m. Sept. 6. He was fined $300 for possession of marijuana, $100 for possession of drug paraphernalia and was taxed $60 costs of prosecution.

Carlson pleaded guilty to the charges after reaching a plea deal with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly on June 1, in exchange for Kelly reducing a felony charge of possessing a controlled substance to the criminal attempt charge and agreeing to not file additional charges in the case.

Carlson was arrested at his rural Holt County residence April 1, after a search warrant was conducted at the home by a Holt County deputy with the assistance of the Nebraska State Patrol and the O’Neill Police Department. Carlson was represented by Holt County public defender Rodney Smith.

Michael R. Johns, 27, of O’Neill was sentenced in two similar cases. On a charge of third-degree domestic assault committed March 30, Johns was sentenced to a 24-month term of probation and assessed $50 costs of prosecution.

Pursuant to a plea deal, a felony count of first-degree false imprisonment was dismissed by Kelly in exchange for Johns guilty plea to the assault charge.

Johns again committed third-degree domestic assault on the same victim June 12 and was again charged with first-degree false imprisonment, along with an infraction. The felony first-degree false imprisonment charge was reduced to second degree, a Class 1 misdemeanor, in exchange for Johns’ guilty pleas.

He was sentenced to a 24-month probation term for the assault and false imprisonment charges, concurrent to probation ordered in the first case, and was fined $300 for possession of marijuana and taxed $50 costs. Probation-program fees and drug-testing fees were assessed in only the second case.

Johns was represented by Smith.

Anastatia G. Nelson, 38, of Stuart was fined $200 and assessed $50 costs of prosecution for Class 1 misdemeanor, commit child abuse negligently/no injury, committed Feb 15 at a rural Stuart residence. Kelly reduced a felony count of intentional child abuse/no injury, per a plea bargain, in exchange for Nelson’s guilty plea.

A warrant for Nelson’s arrest was signed by Burdick Feb. 17, following an investigation by Holt County officers. The warrant was served Feb. 18 and Nelson posted $25,000, 10% cash, bond the same day. She was represented by Frederick Bartell of Norfolk.

Burdick fined Kurtis L. Nicolaus, 36, of O’Neill $75 for a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace and taxed $50 costs.

Per terms of a plea deal, Kelly reduced the charge from commit child abuse, negligently/no injury, a Class 1 misdemeanor, in exchange for Nicolaus’ no contest plea. Burdick found him guilty.

Nicolaus was arrested Feb. 16 by an O’Neill police officer and posted $10,000, 10% bond the following day. He was represented by Smith.

James L. Palik, 20, of O’Neill was fined $75 and taxed $50 costs for disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed June 6. Palik waived his right to counsel and entered a no contest plea, per terms of a plea deal. In return, Kelly agreed not to file additional charges as a result of the incident.

Sydney M. Abbott, 29, of O’Neill pleaded guilty, by waiver, to two June 16 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, in O’Neill. She was fined $100 on each count and taxed $49 costs.

David L. Rutjens, 42, of Tilden pleaded guilty, by waiver, to driving a commercial vehicle without obtaining a CDL. He was fined $100, with $49 costs. Rutjens was cited June 23 south of Page, by a NSP carrier enforcement officer.