Burwell man fined $1,600 for alcohol offenses

Levi W. Bode, 19, of Burwell faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week on seven misdemeanor alcohol and tobacco charges. A plea agreement was announced, resulting in Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly reducing a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, to reckless driving, first offense, and dismissing two counts of possession of false identification and a count of tobacco use by a minor.

Bode pleaded no contest and was found guilty on Count I, reckless driving, Count II, minor in possession of alcohol, Count III, possession of false identification, all Class 3 misdemeanors, and Count VII, possession of open alcohol container, an infraction. Burdick fined him $500 each for counts I, II and III, and $100 for Count VII. He was taxed $50 costs.

Bode was arrested Jan. 15, in O’Neill, by a Holt County investigator after a report was received of his erratic driving on Highway 275 near Ewing. The officer reported, in a probable-cause affidavit, that two fake IDs were located during a search of Bode’s vehicle at the time of his arrest and a third was found in his wallet when he was booked into the jail. According to the affidavit, Bode indicated they came in the mail as a “package deal,” and one was used to purchase alcohol.

He was represented by John Vipperman of Grand Island.

David Kaupp, 73, of Gregory, South Dakota, pleaded guilty, by waiver, and was fined $100, with $49 costs, for failing to have or carry a fuel permit. He was cited by a Nebraska State Patrol carrier enforcement officer on Highway 281, north of O’Neill, on March 29.