Antelope County judge fines defendants for misdemeanor crimes

Jake R. Short, 22, of Meadow Grove appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County Court in Neligh on Jan. 18, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney, to be sentenced for second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed nearly one year ago.

Taylor fined Short $200 and assessed $50 costs. Restitution of $433.73 had been paid and a second forgery count was dismissed by deputy Antelope County Attorney, Joe Smith, as agreed to by the late county attorney, Joe Abler, in an October 2022 plea agreement.

According to the complaint, filed by Abler, Short forged two checks between Feb. 26 and March 3, in amounts of $67.12 and $66.61, to JB Mart in Tilden and another, in the amount of $300, to Heritage Bank on Feb. 27, all on the account of the same individual.

Simon M. Beacom, 20, of Omaha faced Taylor for sentencing on a Class 3 misdemeanor count committed June 24, minor in possession of alcohol (age 19/20). Taylor fined Beacom $500 and taxed him $81.21 costs of prosecution. He pleaded guilty to the charge Dec. 7, 2022, as part of a plea bargain. In return, Smith dropped a charge of misrepresenting his age to purchase the alcohol. Beacom, who at the time he committed the offense, was on probation for previous charges of MIP and misrepresenting his age to purchase alcohol, also admitted violating the probation when he committed the new offense. Taylor extended the probation by three months.

"aived probation fees for

the months.

Beacom was represented by Martin Klein of Neligh.

Gaylen L. Dredge, 60, of

Neligh appeared for sentencing on Count II, driving under sus- pension, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed Oct. 21, 2022, and pretrial hearing on counts I and

III, no proof of financial respon- sibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Taylor fined

Dredge $100 on Count II and as- sessed $50 costs. Smith dismissed counts I and III, without preju- dice. Dredge was self-represented.

Pepper W. Marchant, 24, of

Neligh appeared to request waiver of a 30-day jail sanction, set to

commence Feb. 1, ordered as

part of a 2021 probation sen-"tence. Taylor waived the jail time, reminding Marchant that he

remains on probation.

Marchant was placed on a

24-month term of probation Feb. 17, 2021, for Class 1 misdemean- ors, Count I, assault public safety officer with bodily fluid, counts II and III assault and Count V,

obstructing a peace officer. He was also sentenced to 90 days in the Antelope County Jail, with credit for 81 days served prior to sentencing, on Count II and 90 days in the ACJ on Count III, to be served concurrently. The

second jail order was modified in October 2021, to three waivable 30-day sentences.

Dallas J. Hansen, 43, of Pla- inview pleaded guilty, by waiver, and was fined $250 and $49 costs

for hunting with artificial light," "a Class 3 misdemeanor. Hansen was cited by a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officer Dec. 4, west of the Plainview Country Club.

Shaun P. Macdonald, 21, of Colorado Springs, Colorado,

pleaded guilty, by waiver, to pos- session of less than one ounce of marijuana, an infraction. He was fined $300 and taxed $49 costs.

Colton L. Minnich, 21, of Colorado Springs pleaded guilty, by waiver, to a pair of infractions, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and speeding, 11-15 mph over the posted limit. He

was fined $300 and $75, respec- tively and taxed $49 costs.

The Colorado men were cited by an Antelope County deputy Oct. 19, n and

844 Road."