Oakdale man arrested for felony assualt of country road worker

An 18-year-old Oakdale man is facing felony charges for the alleged first-degree assault of an Antelope County road worker.

Haiden Sleister was arrested Sept. 25, following an investigation into injuries sustained by the county employee Sept. 23 near the Oakdale village lagoon. Sleister, who turned 18 on the day of the alleged assault, was set for arraignment Oct. 6 in the Antelope County courtroom. Bond was set at $100,000, 10% cash by the Honorable Donna Taylor on Sept. 27 and the Antelope County public defender’s office was appointed to represent him.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Antelope County sheriff Robert Moore last week, the employee had witnessed the alleged reckless behavior of Sleister, who was the driver of a vehicle, and two others who were riding on the outside of the vehicle.

According to Moore, the worker had called road boss Aaron Boggs saying he was in trouble but was unable to give details. Boggs was able to find the employee using county tracking technology and called for an ambulance.

Moore said the worker suffered injuries, including “deep tissue damage and a severe concussion.” The worker later remembered he had taken a photo and confronted the defendant and his companions out of concern for their safety. Law enforcement officers allegedly identified Sleister and his companions from the photo.

An Elgin man, Brian G. Tibbens, 50, was also set for arraignment Oct. 6 on first-degree assault charges alleged in a Sept. 26 incident at rural Elgin.

The victim was transported to Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh by Tibben’s girlfriend and was subsequently transferred to an Omaha hospital due to the seriousness of his injuries, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Antelope County deputy Shelby Keetle.

Tibbens, who allegedly drove away from the site, leaving the victim unconscious on the ground, was arrested at his residence by the deputy who responded to concern for the welfare of another individual. Taylor, on Sept 27, set Tibbens’ bond at $100,000, 10%, and appointed the public defender’s office to represent him.