LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A third man accused in the slaying of a Lincoln man during a botched robbery has taken a plea deal.

Online court records say 23-year-old Derick Lewis, of Alton, Illinois, pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbery conspiracy. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10. Lewis was charged with murder after the Aug. 30 killing of Maurice Williams, but prosecutors amended the charge and others in return for Lewis’ guilty plea.

In April 23-year-old Jason Holmes and 26-year-old Michael Nevels pleaded no contest and were convicted of being accessories to robbery. They, too, had taken plea deals.

A trial on murder and weapons charges is scheduled to begin July 20 for a fourth man, 20-year-old Joshua Carr. He’s pleaded not guilty. He’s also known as Joshua Nootenboom-Carr.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus woman has been accused of using a stun gun to shock her 13-year-old daughter.

A hearing is scheduled next week for 42-year-old Ruby Baeta, who is charged with felony child abuse. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be called to comment on Baeta’s behalf.

Columbus police say the girl and her 16-year-old sister reported that their mother shocked the younger girl around 5:30 p.m. Friday. An officer says he saw two bumps on the girl that he says could have been caused by a stun gun.

The officer says Baeta denied shocking the girl and denied owning a stun gun. He says he found a stun gun in a suitcase in a closet in the home.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a deputy U.S. marshal has killed a dog as officers approached a suspect at a Lincoln home.

The shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon when officers of the Metro Fugitive Task Force went to arrest 28-year-old Johnnie Harris on a Douglas County warrant alleging misdemeanor traffic violations. A Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office incident report says that as the officers talked to Harris, a German shepherd named Corporal left a porch and approached them.

The report says the dog was “aggressively barking and growing” as he approached, and the officer shot it.

Harris was taken into custody. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be contacted to comment on Harris’ behalf.

ATLANTA (AP) — Federal authorities say an Atlanta area woman bought the gun that was used to kill a police officer in Nebraska.

A statement from a federal agent filed last week in federal court in Atlanta says Jalita Johnson replied “yes” to a question on a form asking whether she was the actual buyer of the gun. In reality, the agent wrote, Marcus Wheeler gave Johnson money and told her which gun to buy for him. Wheeler was identified as her boyfriend.

Reached by The Associated Press at a number listed in court documents, Johnson said she had no comment.

Police in Omaha say Wheeler fatally shot officer Kerrie Orozco on May 20 when he opened fire on officers trying to arrest him. Wheeler was killed when another officer returned fire.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A co-writer of the upcoming horror film, “The Gallows,” is returning for a special screening in his hometown of Beatrice, where the movie takes place.

Chris Lofing is a 2009 Beatrice High School graduate, and he co-wrote the movie that’s set to premiere in theaters Friday. He and his business partner will travel to Beatrice for a special red-carpet showing of the movie on July 24 at the Holly Theatre.

“The Gallows” takes place entirely in a fictional Beatrice high school.

A tragic accident during a 1993 school play leads to a student’s hanging. A new performance is held 20 years later, but on the eve of the play’s revival, several students find themselves trapped in the auditorium, haunted by the student’s ghost.