Page man pleads guilty to violating burn ban

Ron Crumly, 74, Page, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 1, for arraignment on Class 4 misdemeanor alleged March 1, 2022, violation of statewide burn ban. Crumly waived his right to counsel and pleaded guilty. Taylor set sentencing for March 1.

Sarah J. Ward, 46, of Oakdale faced Taylor on Class 4 felony, possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine) alleged Jan. 4. Ward requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney and set further arraignment for Feb. 15. Bond, in the amount of $20,000, 10% cash, posted Jan 10, is continued.

Austin R. Bertschinger, 30, of Oakdale faced Taylor for further arraignment on a count of possession of tramadol, a Class 4 felony alleged Dec. 10. Taylor continued the case to Feb. 15. Bond posted Dec. 28, in the amount of $1,000, 10% cash, is continued as well. He is represented by Carney.

Bertschinger was arrested Dec. 10 by an Antelope County deputy, on the Madison-Antelope County line near Tilden, after a bottle of Tramadol was allegedly found in the purse of a passenger during a search of his vehicle.

Michael Hansen, 36, of Stanton appeared for arraignment on a charge of obstructing government operations, a Class 1 misdemeanor alleged Nov. 26. Hansen, who is represented by Frederick Bartell of Norfolk, pleaded not guilty. Pretrial hearing is set Feb. 15.

Christopher B. Brady, 22, of Elgin appeared on allegations he violated probation. He requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Carney and reviewed Brady’s bond conditions and probation order. Further arraignment is set Feb. 15, with bond posted Jan. 27, in the amount of $4,000, 10%, continued. Brady was placed on probation by Taylor on Nov. 2, 2022, until May 2, 2024, for a conviction of third-degree domestic assault.

The alleged violations include use of alcohol and drugs, failing to download continuous alcohol monitor readings, failure to appear for alcohol/drug testing and failing to complete an evaluation as ordered by the court.

Breanna McNutt, 23, of Norfolk did not appear for a violation of probation hearing. Bartell faced Taylor on her behalf and requested continuance. Taylor continued the hearing to March 1.

McNutt was sentenced to an eight-month term of probation April 6, 2022, for her conviction of third-degree assault and criminal mischief. The violation charge stems from an alleged positive drug test (methamphetamine and amphetamine) on Nov. 9, 2022.

Ray M. Connot, 57, of Neligh did not appear for a pretrial hearing on a Class 3 misdemeanor, second-degree criminal trespass, alleged Oct. 27. The hearing was continued to Feb. 15 on a motion of deputy Antleope County attorney Joseph Smith.

A motion filed by Bradley Easland of Norfolk, on behalf of his client, Lynn D. Koinzan, 63, of Elgin, was granted. Koinzan’s pretrial hearing on a charge of reckless driving, alleged Aug. 30, 2022, is continued to Feb. 15.

An affidavit and motion requesting a warrant for the arrest of Tricia A. Zobrist, 43, of Oakdale, was filed by Smith. Zobrist failed to appear in Antelope County Court Jan. 18 on a charge of issuing a bad check and Taylor ruled Smith could file the appropriate documents for the defendant’s arrest. The warrant was signed Feb. 2 by the Honorable Ross Stoffer, setting bond at $1,500, 10%.

Zobrist allegedly wrote a check to Thriftway Market in Neligh in December 2021, which failed to clear the bank.

According to the affidavit, the county attorney’s office has three additional bad checks allegedly written by Zobrist, to Mr. S’s in Oakdale.