February 2016 – Page 28 – North Platte Post Archive

Kearney Hotel Mogul, Corporation Charged with Unlawful Hiring of Aliens

Posted on February 9, 2016

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced today that Paul Younes, age 63 of Kearney, Nebraska, and Kearney Hospitality, Inc. were arraigned on charges related to the unlawful hiring of aliens. Younes was charged with unlawful employment of aliens in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324a(a)(2) and (f)(1). He faces a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment and a $3,000 fine. Kearney Hospitality, Inc. was charged with harboring an alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv) and is subject to a term of probation of five years and a maximum fine of $500,000. Both defendants entered pleas of guilty and sentencing has been set for May 9, 2016.

Younes is an officer and director of various corporations which own and/or run hotels in the District of Nebraska including the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings, Nebraska, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kearney, Nebraska. Kearney Hospitality, Inc. runs the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kearney.

The investigation revealed that Blanca Gama, a citizen of Mexico who was not lawfully in the United States, was employed as the supervisor of housekeeping at the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings. In 2014, Gama learned she was under investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Gama quit her job at the Holiday Inn Express, but later met with Younes who arranged for her to be employed in the housekeeping department at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kearney under the name Elizabeth Gomez. Younes was aware that this person had previously been employed under the name Blanca Gama.

Younes did not place Gomez on the regular payroll for the Fairfield Inn. Rather, he treated her as an independent contractor even though she was the only person in the housekeeping department who was employed in that capacity. Younes later authorized this person’s re-hire at the Holiday Inn Express in Hastings under the name Jacqueline Lopez even though she continued to be referred to as Blanca Gama at that location.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Nebraska Activists Scold Commission for Whiteclay Beer Sales

Posted on February 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission says without substantive proof the agency cannot act on allegations that beer-sellers in Whiteclay are abusing their licenses.

Activists on Tuesday called on the commission to withhold liquor licenses from the town’s four beer stores, saying vendors sell to pregnant women, minors and customers who are already drunk, but agency director Hobert Rupe says the kind of action testifiers are seeking requires witnesses to go on the record.

Frank LaMere, a Native American activist from South Sioux City, berated the commission, saying prejudice and apathy prevent its intervention.

Whiteclay sold the equivalent of 3.9 million cans of beer in 2015, despite having only 14 residents. The town has been blamed for social problems on bordering South Dakota’s dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Appeals Court Vacates Nebraska Man’s Child Abuse Conviction

Posted on February 9, 2016February 9, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Court of Appeals has reversed a Scottsbluff man’s child abuse conviction and vacated his prison sentence, adding that he cannot be tried again.

Cody Olbricht was convicted last year of intentional child abuse resulting in serious injury, accused of severely beating his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter. He was sentenced to 18 to 30 years in prison.

On Tuesday, the appeals court said there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to convict Olbricht. The appeals court said prosecutors failed to provide evidence that the child was in Olbricht’s sole care at the time she received injuries that led to a brain bleed and lacerated liver.

The appeals court determined that double jeopardy applies, and that Olbricht cannot be tried again.

Nebraska Company to Ship Beef to Israel, Officials Say

Posted on February 9, 2016February 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities say a Hastings company will be sending the first significant shipment of beef from the United States to Israel since Israel banned U.S. beef imports more than a dozen years ago.

Israel had barred U.S. beef after a case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was confirmed in the United States in December 2003.

On Tuesday Nebraska Agriculture Department Director Greg Ibach (EYE’-bah) praised WR Reserve for complying with a rigorous inspection process that included Israeli government regulator visits. WR Reserve officials declined to comment on the shipment.

The department news release didn’t say how large the shipment would be, and department officials didn’t immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.

Man Convicted of Omaha Bank Robberies Gets Life Sentence

Posted on February 9, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a repeat offender has been sent to prison for life because he robbed two banks and tried to rob a third in Omaha.

Twenty-nine-year-old Quantal Blake was sentenced Monday in Omaha. He was convicted in May of bank robberies in February and March 2014 and of an attempted robbery in March 2014.

Authorities linked Blake to the robberies through the electronic monitoring device that he was required to wear because of two prior robbery convictions.

Blake had two previous violent felony convictions for robbery and associated weapons charges. Because a firearm was used during the March 2014 robbery, Blake was subject to the life sentence under the federal three-strikes law.

Sentence Upheld for Nebraska Woman Who Testified Home Was a Drug Temple

Posted on February 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska appeals court has upheld the prison sentence of a woman who had argued at trial that her drug dealing was part of her religious beliefs.

Brenda Hines, of York, was convicted last year of four counts, including one for trafficking drugs in her home, which she argued was a “Temple of Zion” where God provided the drugs she sold. She was sentenced to two to four years.

Hines argued on appeal that her sentence was excessive and violated her religious freedom right.

The Nebraska Court of Appeals said Tuesday that Hines’ sentence was with the range allowed by law and not excessive.

It declined to address her religious freedom claim, saying she failed to argue or cite to any authority as to how her sentence violated that right.

DHHS Raises Cost Concerns About Nebraska Medicaid Proposal

Posted on February 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is once again raising cost concerns about a proposal to insure thousands of low-income residents with Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act.

The department on Tuesday released a consultant’s report that predicts the state would pay $978 million over a 10-year period under the newest Medicaid bill. The federal government would pay an estimated $13.8 billion.

Supporters say covering the uninsured would help boost the state economy.

According to the report, the legislation would cover more than 74,000 uninsured, low-income residents; provide premium assistance to nearly 35,000 with employer-sponsored insurance; and offer traditional Medicaid coverage to more than 15,000 who are deemed medically frail.

Nebraska Medicaid Director Calder Lynch says he will testify against the bill during a legislative hearing Wednesday.

Amtrak Train Delayed 10 Hours Just Minutes from Stop

Posted on February 9, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Amtrak train that struck an abandoned car and then a tree was delayed nearly 10 hours just a few miles from its scheduled stop in Omaha.

The first delay occurred around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, after the train struck a car that authorities say was abandoned on tracks in Bellevue. The wreckage was removed and the train resumed its journey 3½ hours later. Within minutes it struck a tree that had fallen across the tracks.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said Tuesday the tree damaged the lead locomotive’s underside. The locomotive was uncoupled after repair attempts were made on site.

The train got moving again around 7:55 a.m. Monday with only its second locomotive for power and arrived at the Omaha station 10 minutes later.

Nebraska Supreme Court to Hear Former Police Chief’s Appeal

Posted on February 9, 2016

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Sidney’s former police chief who was convicted of obstructing government operations.

Byron Wilkinson was convicted after pleading no contest in July and was sentenced to 30 days. Prosecutors say Wilkinson failed to pursue a case against then-city Public Works Director John Hehnke, after Hehnke’s ex-girlfriend filed a criminal complaint in January 2014. Wilkinson instead handled the matter administratively and didn’t seek charges.

Wilkinson filed an appeal in December with the Nebraska Appeals Court. Wilkinson argues that he didn’t cause any serious harm to anyone and that putting him behind bars wasn’t necessary to protect the public.

The case has been moved to the Supreme Court docket and will be heard the week of March 28.

Richard Lee “Pooch” Pollat

Posted on February 9, 2016February 9, 2016

Richard Lee “Pooch” Pollat, age 77, of Paxton, NE, died Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, NE.

Richard was born June 10, 1938, to Joseph and Beulah Melius Pollat at Cozad, NE where he grew up and went to school. In 1957 Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army then returned to Cozad following his discharge. In 1959 he married Lorna Chipperfield. They had two children, Debra and Mark, and later divorced.

On August 21, 1970, Richard was united in marriage to Marian Marie Beachy Wilson at North Platte. They lived in Cozad for 20 years before moving to Paxton. Richard worked as a bricklayer and a farmer. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and enjoyed hunting and going to auctions. Richard loved his grandkids, especially his granddaughter, Elle.

Richard leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Marian, of Paxton; children, Joe (Donna) Pollat, of Cozad, Debra (Bill) White, of Central City, NE, and Kendra (John) Lutz, of Sutherland, NE; four grandchildren, Andy White, Brock Pollat, Gunar Pollat and Elle Pollat; a brother, Roger (Jan) Pollat, of Kearney, NE; special friend, Mary Tridle, of Paxton; and several nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Beulah; an infant son, Mark Alan Pollat and son, Michael Pollat; and two brothers, Bruce and Joe Pollat.

Graveside Funeral Service with military honors will be 2 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2016, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery with Pastor Brent Montgomery officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CT) Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.