Judge rules on firearms held as evidence

The Honorable Mark Johnson, presiding from the bench of the Antelope County district court in Neligh on Jan. 26, ruled on a motion to dispose of two firearms, returning one to the lawful owner and ordering the second to be destroyed.

Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler filed the motion Nov. 16, 2021, asking for a court order allowing the “disposition and/or lawful destruction” of firearms seized from Mason R. Siems, 21, of Tilden, when he was arrested following a gaming violation. Abler indicated the guns, a Rock River Arms LAR 15 rifle, and a Mossberg .270 caliber rifle, are no longer needed as evidence.

Siems was convicted in April 2021, per terms of a plea deal with Abler, who reduced two Class 1D felony counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person to Class 2 felony attempted-possession counts.

Two parties filed applications for return of the rifles. Karissa Siems claimed ownership of the Rock River Arms weapon, while Heidi McConnell’s application indicated she was the legal owner of the Mossberg rifle, having received it from her father. Both women were called to testify.

Johnson overruled Abler’s motion regarding the Rock River rifle, ordering it be returned to Karissa Evans (applicant Karissa Siems). The judge sustained the motion regarding the Mossberg rifle, ordering it be destroyed.