Holt County judge hands out sentences

The Honorable Kale Burdick sentenced four defendants when he presided from the Holt County bench Sept. 6.

Michael Ford, 34, of Oakland appeared for sentencing on a Class 2 misdemeanor count of issuing a bad check. Burdick sentenced Ford to a 12-month term of probation, including a $30 enrollment fee and $60 in drug testing fees, to be served concurrently with probation ordered in a recent district court bad check case. Probation program fees of $300 were waived. He was ordered to pay $394.85 restitution to Big Red Motorsports and was taxed $60 costs of prosecution. He was represented by Holt County public defender Rodney Smith.

Rodney D. McDonald Jr., 19, of Clay Center was sentenced a six-month term of probation, a $500 fine and his driver's license was revoked for 60 days for a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor; a $300 fine for minor in possession of alcohol, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and a $50 fine for possession of false identification. He was taxed $105 costs. McDonald pleaded guilty to the three charges which were included in an amended complaint filed by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly pursuant to a plea deal. Kelly dismissed a count of reckless driving, three additional false ID counts and an open container violation. McDonald was arrested July 16 by an O'Neill police officer. He was represented by Forrest Peetz of O'Neill.

Tyler K. Hanson, 40, of O'Neill appeared for sentencing on three counts, Count I, willful reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor; Count II, stop sign violation, an infraction; and Count V, possession of an open alcohol container, an infraction. Burdick sentenced him to 10 days in the county jail and 60-day revocation of his driver's license on Count I; a $75 fine on Count II; and a $50 fine on Count V; along with $105 costs. Hansen pleaded guilty to the three counts July 19, as part of a plea agreement. In return, Kelly dismissed a stop sign violation and a charge of no proof of ownership. He was arrested by an O'Neill officer June 4. Hanson was self-represented.

Mauritz C. Engelbrecht, 27, of O'Neill faced Burdick for sentencing on a DUI charge. Burdick sentenced Englebrecht to a six-month term of probation, a $500 fine and revoked his driver's license for 60 days. Engelbrecht pleaded guilty to the offense Aug. 2, as part of a plea deal. In return Kelly dismissed counts of careless driving and possession of an open alcohol container. He was arrested May 15 by an O'Neill officer. Engelbrecht was represented by Michael Sholes of O'Neill.

A 17-year-old male juvenile from Atkinson pleaded guilty to possession of tobacco, first offense, by waiver. He was fined $35 and $49 costs. He was cited Aug. 14, in O'Neill, for possession of a vape pen.

Gevorg Shaghoyan, 42, of Canyon Country, California, pleaded guilty, by waiver, to having no Nebraska fuel permit, a Class 4 misdemeanor. He was fined $100 and $49 costs. He was cited by a Nebraska State Patrol carrier enforcement officer Aug. 9, near Inman on Highway 20.