Antelope County judge issues warrants

The Honorable Donna Taylor signed two arrest warrants recently when she presided over Antelope County Court in Neligh.

A warrant was issued Wednesday, Sept. 1, for a 63-year-old Orchard man - on new but similar allegations to a case currently set for a jury trial in the county court, involving a different victim.

The warrant called for the arrest of Russell L. Meyer on two charges, second-degree trespassing and disturbing the peace. Bond was set at $3,000, 10% cash, with a condition for no contact with the victim, her mother or their residence. The warrant was served the same day and Meyer posted bond. Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa was appointed to represent him Sept. 10 and bond was modified to allow travel to Illinois for vision treatment, and arraignment continued to Nov. 17.

According to a probable-cause affidavit, filed by Antelope County sheriff Robert Moore on Sept. 1, he received a report Aug. 16 from the mother of an Orchard woman, reporting Meyer had allegedly approached the woman on the family’s property Aug. 12. She became frightened and called her parents who returned home, to find Meyer still on the property. He was told to leave and not return. The parents reported he continued to approach the woman whenever they left, asking if she was alone and if her boyfriend was home.

Meyer’s jury trial is set Nov. 22 on a count of second-degree trespassing, in a case involving a different alleged victim. In that case, according to Moore’s first affidavit, after Meyer had allegedly refused to leave the victim’s home when so ordered, the sheriff had advised Meyer not to return to the residence or he would be arrested. He allegedly returned and Moore arrested him.

Meyer, alongside Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa, faced Taylor on Aug. 18 for a hearing on a motion to modify bond, asking that he be allowed to travel to Illinois. Taylor granted the request. All other terms of a $1,500, 10%, bond posted May 1 remained in effect, including to have no contact with the alleged victim.

Taylor signed a warrant for the arrest of a homeless man who had been arrested, Aug. 6 in Neligh, on a Lancaster County warrant for failing to appear for a jail sentence on a third-degree domestic assault conviction.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Neligh police chief Michael Wright, he was dispatched to Casey’s General Store on a report of a suspicious person sitting on the east side of the business. Wright said he located Lucan Coronado, 33, who had no identification but provided his name and date ofbirth. Wright reported he located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in a backpack.

Taylor subsequently signed an order allowing Coronado to plead guilty to the charges by waiver. He was fined $300 and $100, respectively, and $49 costs. Taylor also ruled a warrant may be issued for a defendant who failed to appear for sentencing, Sept. 1, after “proper motion and affidavit are filed by the county attorney.”

Matthew Jung, 37, of Norfolk failed to appear for further arraignment a Class 3 misdemeanor count of driving under suspension and three infraction counts, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding, all alleged April 28, west of Plainview on Highway 20.

He appeared in court June 16, waived his right to counsel and requested a continuance, which was granted. He was again granted continuances July 21, when he cited lack of a ride to court, and when he appeared Aug. 4, Bond, filed April 28, in the amount of $1,500, 10%, was continued each time.

A continuance was granted for Matthew F. Brandt, 34, of Royal, who failed to appear for sentencing on a conviction of leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Jan 28 in Orchard. Figueroa requested the continuance.

She told the judge that an unknown individual had called her office, indicating Brandt was undergoing a root canal. Abler offered no objection and Taylor continued sentencing to Oct. 6. Sentencing had been continued twice previously, Aug. 4, when public defender Melissa Figueroa said Brandt was stranded in McCook after taking a relative to the airport, and Aug. 18, when Brandt appeared but continuance was requested by the prosecutor. Taylor reviewed results of a substance abuse evaluation with Brandt that day, which she said indicated he was a regular user of marijuana, warning he would be tested prior to sentencing.