O'Neill man gets two years, 95 days in prison

A 35-year-old O’Neill man, accused in several county court cases, resolved them along with his resentencing in a Holt County district court felony case, when he faced two judges in the county courtrooms in O’Neill last week.

The Honorable Mark Kozisek revoked probation ordered in April 2023 and, on Monday, Jan. 8, resentenced Shawn D. Crist on a Class 4 felony conviction of possession of methamphetamine. Kozisek ordered Crist to serve two years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for the crime committed in June 2022, with credit for 48 days previously served.

Pursuant to Nebraska’s Truth in Sentencing Law, Crist was advised that, assuming he loses none of the good time he is entitled to, he must serve one year, less 48 days, before his mandatory release on the Holt County district court case.

The next day, Crist faced the Honorable Kale Burdick on his county court charges.

Crist pleaded no contest to the following charges, pursuant to the plea deal with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly that resulted in dismissal and reduction of several charges. Burdick sentenced him to additional time in the state facility, all ordered to be served consecutively to each other and to the district court sentence, as follows:

•No proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Aug. 23, 2023, sentenced to two days;

•No operator’s license, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed Aug. 23, one day;

•No proof of ownership, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed Aug. 23, one day;

•Obstruction of a police officer, a Class 1 misdemeanor committed Aug. 25, 2023, 30 days;

•First-degree criminal trespass, a Class 1 misdemeanor committed Aug. 25, 21 days;

•Theft of services, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Aug. 25, 14 days;

•Criminal mischief, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed Aug. 25, 14 days;

•Reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed Aug. 25, 14 days;

•Second-degree criminal trespass committed Sept. 10, 2023, one day; and

•Dismissed one count alleged Aug. 23 and six counts alleged Aug. 25.

Crist was represented by court appointed attorney, Michael Sholes in the felony case and by Holt County public defender Rod Smith in the county court cases.