Norfolk man charged for theft from rural Clearwater

A 25-year-old Norfolk man had his first court appearance last week on allegations of theft, criminal mischief and trespassing at a rural Clearwater location.

Benjamin T. Smith faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courthouse in Neligh on Feb. 1, for arraignment on three counts alleged Jan. 6, about eight miles northeast of Clearwater, at 85824 519 Avenue.

Smith’s charges include: Count I, theft, 0 - $500, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count II, criminal mischief, 0 - $500, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and Count III, second-degree trespass, a Class 2 misdemeanor. He requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney and set further arraignment Feb. 15.

Three defendants chose to plead guilty to second-degree trespassing charges, committed on the same date and at the same location as Smith’s allegations. They were cited by an Antelope County deputy.

Dawn M. Breaker, 20, of Oakdale, Rex A. Leverett, 28, and Amber Lown, 24, of Norfolk all pleaded guilty, by waiver and were each fined $100 and $49 costs.

Edward D. Lundstrom, 65, of Stanton appeared for further arraignment on a 2020 crime. A plea agreement was announced. Lundstrom pleaded no contest to the Class 3 misdemeanor second-degree trespassing charge in exchange for Smith’s recommendation of a fine. Taylor found Lundstrom guilty and fined him $50 and assessed $52 costs of prosecution. Lundstrom was represented by Martin Klein of Neligh.

Tanai R. Zlomke, 32, of Verdigre pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction committed Dec. 10, 2022, in Tilden. She was fined $100 and $49 costs.