Three sexual assault cases move to Antelope County district court

The Honorable Donna Taylor bound five felony cases over to district court when she presided from the Antelope County Court bench at the courthouse in Neligh on Feb. 15.

Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater appeared in front of Taylor for a preliminary hearing on multiple first-degree sexual assault charges, Class 2 felonies alleged in two separate cases involving separate minor victims. Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith requested the cases be combined. “They are related,” he said. There was no objection from Mueller’s attorneys. He is represented by Martin Klein of Neligh and Bradley Ewalt of Norfolk.

Testimony was heard from Sgt. Shelby Keetle, an Antelope County deputy, who was questioned by Smith and Ewalt. She said Mueller was arrested Dec. 27 in the first case, on an allegation of sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl during the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 2022. He was arrested Jan. 18 in the second case, she testified, for the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl on three separate occasions, the first time alleged after the Antelope County Fair last summer and the last, this winter.

Taylor found there was sufficient cause to send the cases to the Antelope County district court, where Mueller was set for arraignment Feb. 22. Bond, in amounts of $250,000 and $100,000, 10% cash, posted Jan. 4 and Jan 24, respectively, are continued, including conditions for no contact, neither directly nor indirectly, with any person under 18 years of age. Taylor ordered arrest affidavits be resealed due to the age of the alleged victims.

Ryan Brummels, 22, of Ewing, accompanied by his attorney, Frederick Bartell of Norfolk, faced Taylor for first-degree sexual assault of a minor, a Class 2 felony alleged Dec. 26, 2022. Brummels waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case was bound over to the Antelope County district court, where Brummels was set for arraignment Feb. 22. If convicted of the crime, Brummels faces up to 50 years in prison.

A bond hearing was held. Taylor granted a request to lift travel restrictions. All other conditions of his $50,000, 10% bond remain, including neither direct nor indirect contact with the alleged victim nor anyone under 18 years of age.

Smith filed the charge, along with a motion for an arrest warrant, Feb. 2, following an investigation by Keetle. The warrant was signed by the Honorable Ross Stoffer and served by Keetle the same day.

Brummels initially requested court-appointed counsel, with Antelope County public defender Pat Carney being appointed by Taylor on Feb. 6. However, he later retained Bartell and Taylor released Carney from the case.

Michael D. Fox faced Taylor in two cases. Klein was appointed to represent him in both cases, after Carney declared a conflict of interest.

Fox waived his right to a preliminary hearing on a Class 3A felony allegation of making terroristic threats. Taylor bound the case over to the Antelope County district court, where Fox was set for arraignment Feb. 22. If convicted, Fox faces up to three years in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine.

Bond was continued in the amount of $100,000, 10%, with condition for neither direct nor indirect contact with four victims of the alleged Jan. 30 threats.

Fox was arrested Jan. 30 in Orchard by an Antelope County deputy, who was assisted by sheriff Bob Moore and a Neligh police officer, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by deputy Trent Howard. In addition to alleged threats on the lives of four individuals, Fox allegedly slashed a tire on one victim’s vehicle and damaged items in her house. He claimed he had been held against his will in a garage.

Fox also pleaded not guilty and requested jury trial on a Class 3 misdemeanor charge, unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle, alleged Jan. 15. Conviction of the charge carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine and/or up to 90 days in jail. Pretrial hearing is set March 1.

Fox was remanded back to Moore’s custody, pending posting of bond.

Jake R. Short, 22, of Oakdale faced Taylor on an allegation of possession of cocaine. If convicted of the Class 4 felony, Short faces up to a $10,000 fine and/or three years in prison. Short, represented by Carney, waived his right to preliminary hearing. The case was bound over to the Antelope County district court, where he was set for arraignment Feb. 22.

A bond hearing was held. Carney asked for personal recognizance bond, saying Short would reside with his grandmother in Tilden. Smith objected. He said the case involved “a substantial amount of cash and a substantial amount of drugs,” adding “the case should move along fairly fast.”

Taylor questioned the defendant’s grandmother, who indicated he had stayed with her in the past. She said she was frequently away at work and questioned if Short would need more supervision than she could provide.

“That’s what worries me,” she said.

The judge reduced bond to $7,500, 10%, conditioned on written permission to reside at any location listed on bond documents and to be at the house by 8 p.m. every night. Short was remanded to Moore’s custody, pending posting of bond.

Short was arrested Feb. 1 by a Tilden officer, who was investigating the reported theft of cash from a Tilden citizen. The officer subsequently recovered a wallet, allegedly belonging to Short, from another Tilden location. A plastic bag containing white powder that was in the wallet field tested positive for cocaine, according to the officer’s probable-cause affidavit.