Osmond man sentenced for Royal gas drive-off

Aaron C. Poellot, 39, of Osmond was sentenced in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 28, for the May 2 theft of gasoline from a Royal convenience store.

Poellot appeared, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, before the Honorable Donna Taylor on Wednesday for pretrial hearing on a charge of theft by unlawful taking. Madison County attorney Joe Smith served as prosecutor. A plea agreement was announced, which included Poellot changing his plea to guilty and agreeing to pay restitution, in return for Smith’s recommendation for a fine only.

Carney told the judge that his client believed a passenger would pay for the gas when he pumped it into his vehicle May 2, and when that did not happen, he drove away. He said Poellot now has his job back and can pay a fine and restitution.

Taylor fined Poellot $300, taxed him $52 costs of prosecution and ordered him to pay $95.21 restitution to the Royal One Stop. If restitution is paid in full by Feb. 1, Poellot will receive $95.21 credit on the fine.

Taylor continued arraignment for a Tilden man who failed to appear.

Austin R. Bertschinger was scheduled for arraignment at 9:30 a.m. Wedensday, on a Class 4 felony count, possession of a controlled substance. Bertschinger called the court clerk’s office at 11:30, asking about his court date. He claimed he had not received notice of the hearing. Taylor granted “one continuance,” to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 18, and advised the defendant, if he does not appear a bench warrant will be issued. Bond, posted Dec. 13 is continued at $1,000, 10%.

Four Omaha-area deer hunters were cited near Grove Lake on Nov. 12 by a Nebraska Game and Parks officer, for violating Nebraska’s hunting regulations. According to the officer’s notation on the citations, the four were all trying to fill multiple permits held by a fifth companion. The four men, Alfredo F. Garcia-Villalobos, 35, and Jonathan E. Lopez, 29, of Bellevue and Gerardo Lopez Garcia, 58, and Joseph A. Lopez, 25, of Papillion pleaded guilty by waiver and were each fined $100 and assessed $49 costs for hunting without a valid deer permit.