Holt County youths face alcohol, tobacco charges

A 17-year-old Ewing resident faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Aug. 2. The teenager waived his right to counsel and pleaded no contest to possession of alcohol by a minor, under age 19/20, a Class 3 misdemeanor. He was fined $300 and assessed $50 costs for the June 24 offense committed in Ewing.

An O’Neill teenager, accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, possession of an open alcohol container and minor in possession of alcohol, had his case transferred to juvenile court by Burdick. The charges are alleged May 7 on a rural Holt County road. Holt County public defender Rod Smith was appointed as counsel when the youth first appeared for arraignment July 5. The attorney subsequently filed a motion to transfer the case. County attorney Brent Kelly agreed to the transfer, with the youth agreeing to admit the allegations in juvenile court.

A 16-year-old female pleaded guilty, by waiver, and was fined $35 for possession of tobacco. She was taxed $49 costs. The teenager was cited by O’Neill police July 11 for possession of a Vuse vape pen and two Vuse cartridges.

A 16-year-old male also pleaded guilty by waiver, and was fined $35 for possession of tobacco and was taxed $49 costs. He was cited by O’Neill police July 11 for possession of a Vuse vape pen.

Claudio Aljejandro, 46, of O’Neill pleaded guilty Aug. 3, by waiver, to six counts. He was fined $100 for careless driving; $50 for following too close; $100 for possession of drug paraphernalia; $300 for possession of marijuana; $50 for an open container violation; and $75 for no operator’s license, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Counts I through 5 were infractions. He was taxed $50 costs. Aljejandro had appeared in the courtroom July 20 when the public defender was appointed to defend him. He was cited June 13 by an O’Neill officer who indicated the defendant was moving in and out of traffic without due regard and was not giving other drivers “much room to drive.”

Erminio Cifuentes Solis, 42, of O’Neill pleaded guilty, by waiver Aug. 2, to five counts included on an amended complaint, $50 for expired in transits, a Class 5 misdemeanor; $25 for no operator’s license on person, a Class 3 misdemeanor; $25 for no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor; $50 for display of fictitious plates, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and $25 for a child restraint violation, an infraction. Solis was taxed $50 costs. Kelly dismissed a Class 2 misdemeanor, no proof of financial responsibility. Cifuentes Solis appeared in the courtroom May 17 and June 21. The public defender was appointed to represent him. The O’Neill officer, who cited Cifuentes Solis on March 13, indicated the date on the in-transit document had been altered.

James I. Liermann, 44, of Englewood, Colorado, pleaded guilty, by waiver, to possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was fined $300 and $100, respectively, and assessed $49 costs. Liermann was cited in O’Neill on June 29 by a Holt County deputy.

Noe A. Macias, 33, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty, by waiver, to to possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was fined $300 and $100, respectively, and assessed $49 costs. Macias was cited by an O’Neill officer June 21.

Juan Carlos Velozquez, 39, of Atkinson pleaded guilty, by waiver, to possession of an open alcohol container, an infraction. He was fined $50 and taxed $49 costs. Velozquez was cited by a Nebraska State Patrol officer Aug. 2, west of O’Neill on Highway 20.

Homer McPherson, 72, of O’Neill pleaded guilty, by waiver, to failure to correct a violation of city code. McPherson was fined $75 and $49 costs. The citation indicated he was given a 10-day notice on June 30, with a July 10 deadline to remove scrap-iron piles and mow weeds and grass on his property.