Plea deals resolve county court cases

Jill K. Anson, 41, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Sept. 7, for arraignment on one count, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor alleged Aug. 24, in Orchard. A plea agreement was announced by her court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh. Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler amended the complaint to assault by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor, agreed to file no additional charges and recommended a fine only at sentencing. Anson entered a guilty plea. She was fined $750 and was taxed $50 costs. Bond, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash, posted Aug. 24, was released and applied to fine and costs.

Michael D. Fox, 37, of Orchard faced Taylor in two cases, including third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor alleged Aug. 24, in Orchard. The second case was related to a warrant served at the time of his arrest in the first case, due to nonpayment of a fine and costs from a littering charge he had pleaded guilty to earlier in the year. A plea agreement was announced by his court-appointed attorney, Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, in the first case. Abler amended the complaint to assault by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor, agreed to file no additional charges and recommended a fine only at sentencing. Fox entered a guilty plea. He was fined $750 and taxed $50 costs. In the second case, Fox told Taylor the county court clerk magistrate had told him he could sit the fees out while he was jailed awaiting arraignment in the other case. Fifteen days spent in the county jail after his Aug. 24 arrest were credited to cover fines and costs in both cases.

Anthony S. Osborne, 42, of Valentine appeared alongside Carney, for further arraignment on a Class 2 misdemeanor, driving under suspension, subsequent offense. A plea bargain was announced. Abler reduced the charge to Class 3 misdemeanor DUS and recommended a fine only at sentencing. Osborne, who had obtained a valid driver’s license, pleaded guilty to the amended charge. Taylor fined him $100 and assessed $50 costs, to be paid by Oct. 5. “If not, you are going to have to come all the way back here from Valentine to tell me why it is not paid,” she said.

Jessy L Dirks, 31, of Elgin appeared, alongside Carney, for preliminary hearing on a two-count complaint, Count I, a Class 3A felony, strangulation, and Count II, a Class I misdemeanor, third-degree domestic assault, both alleged May 25, in Elgin. Carney announced agreement had been reached. Dirks pleaded no contest to Count II in return for Abler dropping Count I. Taylor found Dirks guilty, ordered a PSI and set sentencing Nov. 2. Bond is continued at $25,000, 10%.

Christopher B. Brady, 20, of Elgin appeared for pretrial hearings in two cases, accompanied by Carney. The first case includes two counts, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor, both alleged May 24, in Elgin, while the second case is a separate charge of third-degree domestic assault, alleged May 20. A plea agreement was announced. Brady pleaded guilty to Count II in the first case, with Abler dismissing Count I and agreeing to make no recommendation at sentencing. In the second case, Brady pleaded guilty to the count as charged. Abler agreed to file no additional charges in the case and to make no recommendation at sentencing. Taylor ordered a presentence investigation report and set sentencing for Nov. 2. Bond, amended and posted June 1, in the amount of $7,500, 10%, is continued, with condition for no contact at Elgin One Stop.

Kristopher T. Dorie, 38, of Albion pleaded guilty, by waiver, to possession of an undersized pike, committed Aug. 21 at Grove Lake near Royal. Dorie was fined $100 and $49 costs. He was cited by a Nebraska Game and Parks officer. The fish measured 33 inches long, one inch short of the 34-inch requirement.