Homeless woman expects to be sentenced to time served

Cassandra Howell, who was in the custody of Antelope County sheriff Bob Moore, admitted violating terms of her probation when she faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Jan. 31. She also admitted failing to appear at a hearing last October.

Howell waived her right to counsel, expecting to be resentenced that day, to time already served.

However, Kube insisted a report be prepared by an officer with the Nebraska probation office before he will pass sentence.

“You may be sentenced to time served,” Kube said before remanding her back to Moore’s custody. “But I don’t have enough information now.”

Howell, 39, homeless (formerly of Trinidad, Colorado), was sentenced May 25, 2022, to an 18-month term of probation for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Howell’s probation supervision was transferred to Colorado, where she was arrested and accused of violating the probation less than a month later. She was again arrested in Colorado in September 2022. Those charges were subsequently dismissed, according to information included on an amended probation violation.

Howell failed to appear for an Antelope County revocation of probation hearing in October 2022 and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

She told the court that she had been in custody since July, although, according to Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith, some of that time was related to a different case. Smith also indicated she had absconded from probation and had left treatment without the permission of her probation officer. Alleged violations also included failure to report for drug testing, failure to complete specialized programing, being unemployed and not reporting address changes.

Howell claimed she had not absconded but, rather, her probation officer had quit and messages left for another officer were not returned. She said she had put herself in treatment and didn’t need permission to leave the program.

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Rowdy L. Burke, 52, of Elgin faced Kube for arraignment on a felony charge of driving under revocation, alleged Nov. 14, 2023, in Elgin.

Represented by Martin Klein, of Neligh, Burke pleaded not guilty. Kube set the case for pretrial hearing Feb. 28, with jury trial placed on the April 15 docket. If convicted, Burke faces a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and/or up to a $10,000 fine. Bond, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash is continued.

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Kube signed warrants calling for the arrest of two individuals who failed to appear for revocation of probation hearings.

A warrant on Harley J. Snyder, 21, last known address, Lincoln, was requested by Snyder’s probation officer, who indicated her belief he had absconded from probation. On Dec. 21, 2022, the Honorable Mark Johnson sentenced Snyder to a 24-month term of probation for March 21, 2022, break-ins at two Neligh businesses, Neligh Vape Shop and the Fit Stop.