Local judge passes case to Madison County judge

County court cases in Antelope County are routinely heard by the Honorable Donna Taylor, one of three county court judges presiding from benches in the Nebraska’s Seventh Judicial District.

Last week, Taylor passed a case to one of her peers. The Honorable Ross Stoffer will travel to Neligh to hear a case involving a former Neligh police officer, Michael D. Wright. Wright is set for further arraignment May 1. Bond is continued at $5,000, 10% cash.

Referring to previous work through Antelope County involving Wright as an officer, county prosecutor Joe Smith said, “I want to state on the record I don’t have a conflict.”

Wright, 50, of Neligh appeared in the Antelope County courtroom March 20 on a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of third-degree domestic assault, alleged March 17 in Neligh.

Wright requested continuance to consult an attorney. He also requested amendment of his bond to allow contact with family members and permission to obtain personal items from residence.

Amy Wright asked Taylor to lift a no contact order.

“I don’t want to set a precedent for this case,” Smith said after he objected to Wright moving back into the family home. However, he said he did not object to phone contact.

“I don’t want to be involved in this case very much,” Taylor said before amending bond conditions.

Wright will be allowed to contact his wife regarding arrangements for visitation with their minor child and collection of his personal items from the family home.

In addition, Taylor prohibited contact with Wright’s older son, who she said may be a witness in the case.

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Danial C. Hohrein, 46, of Oakdale appeared for arraignment on three counts alleged March 16 - Count I, drive under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor; Count II, leave scene of property-damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and Count III, provide false information, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Potential penalties if convicted include up to a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail on Count I; up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail and up to one-year license revocation on Count II; and up to $1,000 and/or one year in jail on Count III.

Hohrein requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney and set further arraignment April 3.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by a Neligh police officer, Hohrein was allegedly the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident at the intersection of Highway 275 and 2nd Street in Neligh on March 16. The officer alleged Hohrein, whose license was suspended, left the scene of the accident and denied driving the white Chevy Avalanche, despite damage to the vehicle that was allegedly parked behind his residence. He was arrested at the residence and posted 10% of a $4,000 bond.

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Ronald Dugal, 61, of Neligh waived his right to counsel and pleaded not guilty to a count of driving under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor alleged Feb. 21. He requested continuance to obtain his driver’s license. Taylor continued arraignment to April 17.

Warrant issued

Taylor issued a warrant for the arrest of Marta Yanes Cambara, 54, of Neligh, who failed to appear for arraignment in two cases. Bond is set at $10,000, 10% cash. Yanes Cambara was arrested March 7 on a warrant that had been issued after she failed to appear in court March 5. She was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered to appear in court last week.

Yanes-Cambara is chargedwith a Class 4 felony, issue bad check-aggregate, including three checks allegedly written between May 30 and June 2, 2023, to Thriftway Market in amounts of $1,052.40, $740.81 and $354.31. She is also charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor, disturbing the peace, alleged Jan. 3.