Texas woman thanks judge for drug treatment

The Honorable Mark Johnson was thanked by a defendant for amending her bond to allow inpatient addiction treatment.

Presiding from the bench in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh, Johnson found four defendants guilty Wednesday, Dec. 22, after plea bargains were announced. He ordered presentence investigations and set sentencing Feb. 23 for all four.

Samantha F, Lowder, 33, appeared on three counts, theft by receiving stolen property, more than $5,000, a Class 2A felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Class 4 felony; and criminal impersonation, also a Class IV felony. Lowder pleaded guilty to an amended count, criminal attempt receiving stolen property, a Class 3A felony, and the criminal impersonation charge. The possession of meth charge was dropped.

She was arrested Aug. 20, outside Casey’s General Store in Neligh. She told the judge her co-defendant, Anthony Lehman, 36, of Carrollton, Texas, was “real high on heroin” and wanted to go back to Texas. She said a female in North Dakota told her it was her car and, believing it was, she and Lehman “gave her money and drugs and borrowed the car.”

The 2017 Honda Accord was confirmed stolen from Minot, North Dakota.

“I lied about my name because I had a warrant,” she said.

Her court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, on her behalf, requested PR bond so Lowder could attend long-term treatment at The Well in Norfolk. He noted she had successfully completed the first phase of inpatient treatment, at Sunrise Place in Norfolk, the previous day and had returned to the Antelope County Jail as ordered. He said Bill Price could take her to The Well yet on Wednesday.

Johnson ordered $10,000 PR bond. She was remanded to the custody of Moore, pending transport.

“Thank you for letting me go to treatment,” Lowder told the judge.

Other cases resolved by plea agreements included:

•Debra F. Jordan, 55, of Norfolk, charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony, and a Class 1 misdemeanor, theft by unlawful taking, appeared for pretrial hearing. Per terms of the plea agreement, Abler dismissed Count I and Jordan changed her plea on Count II to guilty. The crime was committed July 15. A restitution hearing will also be held Feb. 23.

A $10,000 personal recognizance bond is continued. Jordan is represented by Antelope County public defender Pat Carney.

• Tiffany Beckman, 35, of Neligh appeared on two Class 4 felonies, obtaining Medicaid and Nebraska Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by fraud, each in excess of $1,500. Abler reduced both to Class I misdemeanors, criminal attempt Medicaid assistance violation (obtaining assistance by fraud) and criminal attempt SNAP violation (obtaining assistance by fraud). Beckman pleaded guilty to both amended counts. A restitution hearing will also be held Feb. 23. According to Abler, SNAP benefits received fraudulently amounted to $14,728 and Medicaid, $9,117.90.

When asked by the judge, Beckman said she was trying to help her family, but was not provided proper paperwork.

Lehman’s pretrial hearing was continued to Feb. 23, with his jury trial continued to March 21. He is represented by Carney and was remanded to Moore’s custody, pending posting bond, in the amount of $50,000, 10% cash.

She subsequently agreed with Abler’s case review, that documents had been fraudulently filed and she was out of the county during the time benefits were claimed. PR bond was continued. She is represented by Carney.

• Jennifer A. Blevins, 36, of Pierce, charged with a Class 4 felony, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, withdrew a motion to suppress evidence and pleaded guilty to an amended count, false reporting, a Class 1 misdemeanor, pursuant to the plea deal. Bond, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash, is continued. She is represented by Carney.

Brian G. Tibbens, 50, of Elgin, charged with first-degree assault, a Class 2 felony, and terroristic threats, a Class 3A felony, also had his pretrial hearing continued to Feb. 23. Jury trial remains on the March 21 docket. He is represented by Carney and was remanded to Moore’s custody, pending posting of $100,000, 10%, bond.