Naper man bound over on first-degree sexual assault charge

The Honorable Kale Burdick, presiding from the bench in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week, bound two defendants over to the Holt County District Court.

Virgen S. Arellano, 20, of Naper waived his right to preliminary hearing and was bound over June 10 on Count I, first-degree sexual assault, a Class 2 felony alleged Jan. 1, 2019. Jurisdiction of Count II, third-degree sexual assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, was waived to the district court as well.

Arellano is represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith. He filed a written not guilty plea June 10 and his first district court appearance was set for June 17. Bond was set at $250,000, 10% cash.

Burdick signed a warrant for Arellano’s arrest May 15 and granted a motion by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly to seal the arrest affidavit after finding the alleged victims were minors. The warrant was served May 22.

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Drew W. Seskal, 33, of Ewing waived his right to preliminary hearing on a Class 4 felony, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and was bound over June 11. Jurisdiction on two infraction counts, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, were waived to district court jurisdiction as well.

Steskal, who is represented by Smith, filed a written not guilty plea June 13. His first district court appearance is set July 1.

Steskal was arrested April 12 by officers executing a search warrant on a camper parked at a former gas station at the corner of Highways 20 and 45B in Ewing, according to an affidavit filed by Holt County investigator Steven Binkerd. A second search warrant was granted and executed for buildings on the property, where Steskal resided, leading to the alleged discovery of the contraband.

Bond was initially set at 10% of $25,000 but was amended by Burdick on April 16, to $2,500, personal recognizance, with conditions including no contact with Torrey Peterson, Donavan Colfack or another individual whose name was removed from the prohibited contacts in an April 21 bond amendment.

Peterson and Colfack both face criminal charges. Peterson’s next district court appearance is scheduled Aug. 12, while Colfack was set for arraignment June 18 in county court.