LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has received its first report of a rare, mosquito-borne virus.

The Department of Health and Human Services says an eastern Nebraska woman is believed to have contracted the chikungunya (chik-un-GUHN-ya) virus during a recent visit to Haiti. The woman, who was younger than 25, was hospitalized and later released.

Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Joseph Acierno, says the disease is fairly uncommon in the United States but will likely increase in the coming years. Deaths from the virus are rare, but the pain can be severe and debilitating.

DHHS says outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Europe, Asia and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says no mosquitoes that carry the virus have been found in the United States.

A North Platte man that is facing a child pornography charge has pleaded not guilty.

57-year-old James Burnside appeared in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.

North Platte Police say they received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in January, that an individual had uploaded an image of possible child pornography to their Facebook page.

Investigators worked with Facebook and determined that the image had been uploaded to Burnside’s account.

Following an investigation, and the collection of several pieces of evidence, Burnside was charged with possession of child pornography.

Burnside will be back in court for a status hearing in July.

*NOTE*

Burnside was on the June 9 edition of the Hot Sheets.  According to police, Burnside was not arrested on new charges and did not post bond.  Burnside had asked the Lincoln County District Court to allow his release from jail so he could attend his brother’s funeral in Iowa.  The request was granted and Burnside was released on June 6 to attend the funeral.  He returned on June 8.

A North Platte man is going to prison for three to five years for his role in the burglary of a residence whose owner had just passed away.

Timothy Leeper appeared for sentencing, on Monday, in Lincoln County District Court.

Leeper and several others are accused of burglarizing a residence north of North Platte in February.

According to prosecutors, Leeper and his co-defendants knew the home’s owner had passed away, and decided to burglarize it for drug money.  They say Leeper and his cohorts made off with a massive amount of property, including firearms.

Lincoln County Attorney Rebecca Harling asked Judge Richard Birch to sentence Leeper to the penitentiary for a substantial amount of time.

Harling said Leeper and the others stole from a gentlemen after he had passed away, leaving his grieving daughters to deal with the fact that their father’s belongings had been stolen.  She also noted that Leeper had an extensive criminal record.

Leeper’s attorney, Marty Troshynski, asked the court to consider that Leeper had entered into a plea agreement in the case, and had saved the state the time and expense of a trial by pleading no contest to the charge.

Judge Birch then stated that it was obvious that probation was not an option, and sentenced Leeper to not less than three or more than five years in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Corrections.

He gave Leeper credit for 103 days already served in jail.

Two of Leeper’s co-defendants also appeared in court Monday.  Dennis Razes and Brian Spotts both had their cases continued.

A North Platte man will spend the next 10 to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Dakota Niles, 23, was sentenced in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.

According to prosecutors, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Officer received a report of an alleged sexual assault on a 14-year-old female in October of 2012.

The victim was interviewed and alleged that she and Niles had sexual intercourse five times between spring of 2012 and the date she filed the complaint.  The victim also stated that Niles was aware she was only 14 at the time.

Nebraska state law prohibits anyone over the age of 19 from having sexual intercourse with anyone under the age of 16.

Prior to sentencing, Deputy Lincoln County Attorney, Jennifer Wellan, asked Judge Richard Birch to sentence Niles to a lengthy sentence, citing the damage that had been done to the victim in the case and the seriousness of the crime.  She also noted that a pre-sentence investigation conducted by the District 11 Probation Office recommended a lengthy prison sentence for Niles.

Niles attorney, Marty Troshynski, asked Judge Birch to consider that a psychiatric evaluation had determined that Niles was not a pedophile, and was deemed to be a low-risk to reoffend.  He said Niles had taken responsibility for his actions and was remorseful for the acts he committed.

After hearing argument from both sides, Judge Birch stated that he agreed Niles had taken responsibility, but reminded the defendant that the crime he committed was extremely serious, and had a serious impact on the victim.

He then sentenced Niles to not less than 10 or more than 15 years in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Corrections.  He gave Niles credit for 158 days already served in jail.

Niles will also be required to register as a sex offender.