Three defendants behind bars on DUI convictions

Jonathyn M. Gunderson, 32, of Neligh faced The Honorable Donna Taylor on Jan. 5, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, for pretrial hearing on seven counts. Gunderson, who is represented by Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa, was accused of: Count I, driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor; Count II, refusal to submit to chemical test, also a Class W misdemeanor; Count III, obstructing a police officer, a Class 1 misdemeanor; Count IV, leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count V, operating a vehicle during suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor; Count VI, careless driving, an infraction; and Count VII, possession of open alcohol container, also an infraction.

Gunderson entered no contest pleas, and was judged guilty, to counts I, III and IV, pursuant to a plea agreement with Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler. In return, Abler dismissed the remaining four counts. On Count I, Taylor fined him $500, ordered 14 days in the county jail and revoked his driver’s license for six months; he was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Count III, and 14 days on Count IV, to be served concurrently. He was given credit for 44 days served prior to his Dec. 23, 2021, release on personal recognizance. He was ordered to pay $965.77 restitution to Black Hills Energy and was assessed $50 costs of prosecution.

Kevin M. Socha, 33, of Elgin faced Taylor for sentencing on a count of second-offense DUI, a Class W misdemeanor committed June 4 in Neligh. Socha’s attorney, Brad Montag of Norfolk, told Taylor that his client was not requesting probation, but would rather have a “straight sentence” and get the matter behind him. Taylor fined him $500, ordered him to serve 30 days in the Antelope County Jail, with credit for one day previously served, and revoked his driver’s license for 18 months. He was taxed $150 costs of prosecution, with fine and costs either to be paid or sat out prior to his release from jail. He was remanded to the custody of Antelope County sheriff Robert Moore.

Tracy L. Bellemare, 50, of Red Cloud appeared for pretrial hearing on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol (+.15 BAC), second offense. A plea agreement was reached, with Abler amending the charge to first-offense DUI (+.15) and recommending probation, in return for her guilty plea. Taylor sentenced her to two days in the ACJ, a nine-month term of probation, fined her $500 and revoked her driver’s license for one year. She was assessed $150 costs of prosecution and will have to pay probation fees totaling $310. The jail sentence was suspended until noon Jan. 28, she was given credit for one day previously served and will receive credit, up to $200 out-of-pocket expense, for a court-ordered substance abuse evaluation. She was represented by Nathan Stratton of Norfolk.

Two Oakdale residents were also sentenced by Taylor for violations of Oakdale village nuisance ordinance. Rebecca Starkey, 34, who was scheduled for sentencing, had satisfactorily cleaned her property, according to prosecutor Samantha Holecek, on behalf of the village. Tricia Zobrist, 42, of Oakdale, who was set for trial, changed her plea to guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holecek, who said Zobrist had made significant progress in remediating the violation. Both defendants were fined $25 and assessed $50 costs.