Judge deals with tardy, truant defendants

Five defendants showed up at the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, either late or not at all for scheduled hearings in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Sept. 7.

Lisa M. Dugal, 56, of Neligh appeared approximately an hour late, for resentencing on a crime committed in 2019. Her court-appointed attorney, Kyle Peterson of Tilden, appeared at 11 a.m., the time Dugal was scheduled, and told the judge he had correspondence from his client that she would be in the courtroom in “nine minutes.” She arrived just before noon.

Taylor revoked probation ordered Feb. 3 for Dugal’s conviction of false reporting. Despite her admission to violating terms of her probation when she appeared before Taylor on Aug. 3, Dugal again tried to explain her actions.

She said it was “something I didn’t even lie about…I certainly didn’t lie…for the record.”

Taylor said she didn’t think Dugal wanted to be on probation and warned that she wouldn’t want a perjury charge.

“We know you lied, either up here under oath or to police (during original disturbance call). It’s hard for me to believe anything you say,” Taylor said.

Taylor then sentenced Dugal to 10 days in the Antelope County Jail and waived the remaining costs and probation fees.

The false information charge stemmed from Dugal’s Aug. 4, 2021, testimony in court that refuted several statements made to a Neligh police officer who responded to a domestic dispute call at her home July 15, 2021, including that she had been locked in a bedroom and that coffee had been thrown at her by a man, whom she resided with. She testified the couple had “used alcohol” on the day of the incident and she didn’t recall exactly what she told the officer. “I’d like him to come home,” she told Taylor at the 2021 hearing.

Aaron C. Poellot, 38, of Osmond, failed to appear for an 11 a.m. pretrial hearing on a Class 2 misdemeanor theft charge, related to a May 2 gas drive-off from Royal One Stop. His attorney, public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk requested continuance. Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler objected, asking for an arrest warrant, revocation of a personal recognizance bond and to have a cash bond set. Taylor ordered a warrant be issued and revoked the PR bond.

Poellot showed up later, nearly an hour after his appointment, after Carney had left the courthouse for the day. Taylor continued the hearing to Oct. 5 and advised Poellot that a warrant for his arrest would be immediately issued if he failed to appear. He was instructed to contact Carney immediately.

A second warrant was issued for an Omaha man who had a warrant served less than a month earlier in the same 2021 case. Antoine J. Edwards Jr. failed to appear in the Antelope County courtroom Sept. 7, for arraignment on two counts, driving under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor, and speeding, an infraction, both alleged Sept. 6, 2021. According to court documents, Edwards had submitted a waiver of appearance, pleaded guilty and submitted $25 payment, the fine for the speeding charge only. He was advised, by letter, that the waiver acceptance had been dismissed and he was required to appear on the DUS charge. A warrant, issued for his arrest in November 2021, was served by Richardson County authorities Aug. 7, with Edwards posting a $1,500 personal recognizance bond. The new warrant includes a $1,500, 10% cash bond.

Jake R. Short, 22, of Meadow Grove, failed to appear for further arraignment on a pair of Class 2 misdemeanor counts of second-degree forgery, alleged in February and March. Carney, on his behalf, requested a continuance. Taylor continued arraignment to Oct. 5. A complaint, filed by Abler on July 8, alleges Short forged two checks between Feb. 26 and March 3, in amounts of $67.12 and $66.61, to JB Mart and another, in the amount of $300, to Heritage Bank on Feb. 27, all on the account of the same individual.

Hugo L. Ruano Ramirez, 43, of Clearwater failed to appear on a DUI charge, alleged Aug. 12. Taylor ruled Abler may file motion and affidavit for an arrest warrant.