Inman man sentenced to 12 years in prison

An Inman man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for multiple drug delivery and weapon charges in Holt County District Court.

Marquis E. Bull, 39, of Inman faced the Honorable Mark Kozisec in the O’Neill district courtroom last week to be sentenced for crimes he committed between Sept. 12, 2022, and March 7, 2023 - counts I, II and III, delivery of controlled substances (methamphetamine, psilocybin and marijuana, Class 2 felonies; Count IV, possession of a deadly weapon (knife) by prohibited person, Class 3 felony, and Class V, attempted possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a Class 2 felony.

The sentence includes not less than six nor more than 12 years in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections on each of counts I and II, with credit given for 22 days previously served in the county jail, to be served concurrently; two to four years on Count III, concurrent to the time for counts I and II; two to four years on Count IV, to be served consecutive to the prison term on counts I-III; and six to 12 years in prison for Count V, concurrent to the sentence for Count IV but consecutive the prison terms for counts I-III. He was taxed $147 costs of prosecution.

Provided Bull loses none of the good time he is entitled to, he must serve a total of six years, less the 22 days, before reaching parole eligibility and 12 years before his mandatory release.

Bull, who was represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith, pleaded guilty to the charges March 11, as part of a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly.

Kelly reduced counts I-III from Class 1 felonies, delivery of controlled substances near playground or school, and Count 5 from a Class 1D felony; agreed to file no other charges involving possession of controlled substances or firearms prior to March 15, 2023. Charges dropped included driving under suspension, two counts of possession of knives and two for possession of firearms; possession of an imitation controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

Bull was arrested on the delivery of drug charges after he was stopped March 7 on the DUS allegation. According to an affidavit filed by O’Neill police officer Cully Forker, four controlled buys occurred between Sept. 12, 2022, and March 7, 2023, by a confidential participant.

Following Bull’s arrest, search warrants were executed at two locations, one in O’Neill and the other in Inman. According to the affidavit, Bull resided at both residences.

A search of his vehicle also turned up “a substance in a form of a ball wrapped in plastic which looked like meth but turned out to be Epsom salt,” that he intended to pass off as the meth, according to the affidavit.

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Timothy A. Seger, 59, of Spalding, faced Kozisec for sentencing on three counts, attempted possession of a controlled substance (meth), a Class 1 misdemeanor; driving left of center, an infraction, and improper lighting, a Class 3 misdemeanor, all committed April 20, 2023, in O’Neill.

Kozisec sentenced Seger to a two-year term of probation, with conditions to continue working with Vocational Rehab Services and other counseling services, along with attendance at two AA meetings per week. He was fined $25 each on counts II and III and assessed probation fees of $750 and $137 costs of prosecution.

Seger, who was represented by Smith, pleaded no contest to charges in an amended information and was judged guilty by Kozisec on April 1. In the amended complaint, Kelly reduced Count I from possession of meth, a Class 4 felony, to attempted possession, a misdemeanor.

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Kelsey L. Alder, 35, of O’Neill failed to appear for a pretrial hearing on a Class 3A felony terroristic threat charge alleged Jan 12, when she was accused of sending threatening text messages to her ex-husband.

She is represented by Smith.

Kozisec denied Smith’s oral motion for continuance and granted a motion for a bench warrant, setting a $5,000 cash bond.