Antelope County court defendants sentenced, bound over to district court

A Medicaid/SNAP fraud case has been bound over to district court.

Tiffany Beckman, 35, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County Court in Neligh last Wednesday, Aug. 18, on allegations of obtaining Medicaid assistance by fraud between Nov. 1, 2018, and April 30, 2020, (in an aggregate in excess of $1,500) and obtaining Nebraska Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by fraud between Nov. 1, 2018, and Aug. 31, 2020, (in an aggregate in excess of $1,500). The charges were filed by Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler last month.

Both charges are Class 4 felonies. Each carries a potential sentence of up to $10,000 and/or up to two years’ incarceration, with up to two years of post-release supervision.

Beckman waived her right to preliminary hearing and was bound over to Antelope County district court, where she was scheduled to appear Aug. 25. At Abler’s request, Taylor set bond at $5,000, personal recognizance.

Beckman is represented by Antelope County Public defender Melissa Figueroa.

Nathan C. Sneed, 30, of Waldron, Arkansas, faced Taylor on a charge of leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor. Sneed waived his right to counsel and entered a guilty plea. Taylor fined Sneed $500, taxed him $50 costs of prosecution and ordered him to pay $1,536.66 restitution to Black Hills Energy. She ordered him not to leave the State of Nebraska until fine, court costs, and restitution are paid to the Antelope County Court or proof provided that a claim is submitted and accepted by his liability insurance provider.

According to Abler, Sneed hit a gas meter behind Cubby’s on July 23, breaking the line below the shutoff, then drove away.

A Neligh police officer found a molding near the scene and a witness provided a description of the vehicle. Both matched Sneed’s vehicle that was found near a Neligh bar. Abler said the officer smelled alcohol on Sneed, who admitted to consuming beer. Sneed told the judge he thought he had just hit some concrete and only damaged his own truck.

Raymond F. Poli, 44, of Neligh faced Taylor for a preliminary hearing on two counts alleged July 15 in Neligh, Count I, first-degree false imprisonment, a Class 3 felony; and Count II, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea deal was announced, with Abler filing an amended complaint charging Poli with one Class 2 misdemeanor, disturbing the peace.

Poli pleaded guilty. “In consideration of all (Lisa Dugal’s) sworn testimony last time here, I recommend a fine only,” Abler said.

Taylor asked who called the police. Poli affirmed that he had.

Taylor fined him $400 and assessed $50 costs, telling him the maximum fine was $500.

Trent A. Morrow, 46, of Oakdale pleaded guilty, by waiver, to a commercial motor vehicle brake violation and a CMV marking violation. He was fined $50 for each count, along with $49 costs. He is represented by Ronald Temple of Norfolk.

A Class 1 misdemeanor assault charge alleged against a Petersburg man was dismissed recently. Mathew Beard, 31, pleaded not guilty and requested jury trial when he appeared for arraignment earlier this month.

The charge was dismissed, without prejudice, Aug. 13 by Abler.

Beard was represented by Joel Carlson of Norfolk.

A case that is dismissed without prejudice may be refiled, as opposed to one dismissed with prejudice, which is a permanent dismissal.