April 2017 – Page 11 – North Platte Post Archive

Public and private attorneys fight over Omaha murder case

Posted on April 21, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha judge’s order for collaboration between the publicly appointed and privately retained attorneys for a man convicted of quadruple-murder is facing difficulties as the attorneys continue to argue with each other.

Judge Gary Randall told the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy and legal group Team Motta on Thursday they were “not in third grade” and “have an ethical responsibility to discuss the matter.”

Randall ordered the groups to work together as counsel on Anthony Garcia’s impending sentencing.

Team Motta says it “has no intention” to withdraw as counsel, but the commission says it plans to file for the removal of the group in as early as a week.

Garcia, a former doctor, was found guilty in October of murdering four people as apparent revenge for his 2001 firing from a medical school.

Man serving life for fatal Omaha store shooting loses appeal

Posted on April 21, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man serving life in prison for a deadly 2009 shooting at an Omaha convenience store has lost his appeal.

The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday rejected his argument that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction.

A Douglas County jury last year found 26-year-old Akeem Jones guilty of first-degree murder for the death of 22-year-old Gary Holmes in a north Omaha convenience store. Police say the shooting also left Holmes’ cousin, Rodney Smith, paralyzed.

Fisherman rescued from lake in south-central Nebraska

Posted on April 21, 2017

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say firefighters and a canoeist have rescued a fisherman whose boat went down in a south-central Nebraska lake.

Grand Island firefighters were called for help from Mormon Island State Recreation Area around 9:15 p.m. Thursday. The call came from a man who’d been in the boat but made it to shore. He feared the two men with him had drowned.

By the time firefighters arrived with their rescue craft, another of the men reached safety ashore. The third man was still in the water, though, clinging to the almost completely submerged fishing boat.

A man in a canoe met the firefighters’ craft, and they helped the man into the craft so he could be taken to the shore and to a hospital.

The men’s names haven’t been released.

June Skinner Death Notice

Posted on April 21, 2017

June Skinner, 96, of North Platte, died April 20, 2017, at the Josie Harper Hospice House, Omaha. Services are pending at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore.

Patricia Jean (Simon) Sexton

Posted on April 21, 2017

Patricia Jean (Simon) Sexton, age 91 of North Platte passed away April 19, 2017 at her daughter’s home.

She was born December 27, 1925 in North Platte, NE to Carl and Henrietta (Young) Simon. She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School with honors. Pat worked for her brother keeping books for Simon Brothers for a year until she was old enough to join the United States Cadet Nurse Corps. Since WWII had ended before graduating from her nursing education she did not serve in the military. Pat attended nurses training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Mrs. Henry (Clara) Ford pinned her at her graduation ceremony. After passing National Boards for her registered nurse license she returned to Nebraska and worked as a private duty nurse. In October 1948 she married Jack R. Sexton. They resided their entire married life in North Platte, where they raised two sons and four daughters. Pat utilized her nursing experience by working as a private nurse, giving physicals for several insurance companies, and aiding in all types of community volunteer service. She and her husband traveled extensively, seeing all 50 states and also several European countries, after his retirement from the State Patrol.

Pat was a past President of the American Legion Auxiliary, and was active in the women’s organizations of both St. Patrick’s and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; brothers, Bill and Robert; and sisters, Veronica Heelan, Mary Haigler, Regis Bliss, and Jacqueline Ryan.

Pat is survived by her sons, Gregory Sexton of Littleton, CO, and Robert (Kim) Sexton of Beatrice; daughters, Suzanne (Bill) Burbach, Stephanie (Steve) Branch, and Jacki (Bob) Karre all of North Platte and Maureen (Mike) Harlander of Chanhassen, MN; daughter-in-law, Linda Sexton; 20 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren; sister, Rose Ann Ott of Lakewood, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church or to the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Fund. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Christian Wake Services will be held 7:30 P.M. Sunday April 23, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday April 24, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Mark Seiker as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be noon until 7:00 p.m. Sunday April 23, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts turns to public to pitch tax plan

Posted on April 20, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is turning to the public to try to build support for his income and property tax plan in the face of opposition from some lawmakers and the state’s leading farm groups.

Ricketts made his case for the package Thursday outside the Capitol’s legislative chambers, flanked by business leaders and 19 state senators. The governor has held 35 events around the state to present it directly to voters. Lawmakers are scheduled to debate the measure Friday.

The plan would lower the state’s top personal and corporate income tax brackets, adjust the way agricultural land is valued for tax purposes and expand the earned income tax credit for low-income residents.

Ricketts says senators should ignore “big government spenders” who oppose the plan. Opponents say it favors the wealthy.

Prosecutor appeals man’s sentence in underage-sex case

Posted on April 20, 2017

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska prosecutor has filed an appeal of a probation sentence handed down in a child sex assault case.

Twenty-two-year-old Taylor Welty-Hackett was given four years of probation at his sentencing Feb. 24 in Buffalo County District Court. He’d pleaded no contest to attempted sexual assault after prosecutors lowered the initial charge of sexual assault of a child and dropped two related charges.

Investigators say Welty-Hackett and the girl randomly met on social media and met Aug. 1, 2015. Investigators say Welty-Hackett and the girl drove around and eventually had sex inside a vehicle in a parking lot.

Judge Bill Wright said during the sentencing hearing that the 12-year-old girl involved was the aggressor and said, “She made the advances.”

Man pleads no contest in Kearney robbery-chase case

Posted on April 20, 2017

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A man charged with robbing a teenage girl in Kearney has pleaded no contest to several crimes.

Online court records say 34-year-old Johnny Tavares is scheduled to be sentenced May 26 on charges of felony fleeing and misdemeanor assault and false reporting. Prosecutors amended the charges and dropped others in exchange for Tavares’ pleas Tuesday.

A court document says Tavares’ van collided with the girl’s vehicle Feb. 13 in Kearney and that he browbeat her into withdrawing $100 from an ATM, telling her the money would keep him from involving the police.

Officers soon spotted the van, stopped it and then chased it after it took off. Police say Tavares abandoned the van and fled on foot after it struck a garage during the chase. He was arrested later.

College World Series anthem auditions are set for Saturday

Posted on April 20, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Auditions to perform the national anthem at College World Series games will be held Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park in downtown Omaha.

Thirty individuals or groups will compete for 17 spots.

A panel of judges chose the 30 vocalists, musicians and musical groups based on applications. The panel reviewed more than 75 applicants from 15 states. Finalists were selected based on a recorded a cappella rendition of the national anthem accompanying their applications.

The College World Series begins June 17.

Man died after shooting in north Omaha, police say

Posted on April 20, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man has died after he was shot at a residence in north Omaha.

Police say officers were sent to the residence a little after 3 a.m. Thursday. They found the wounded man, and he was taken to Nebraska Medical Center. Police say he died there.

Police have identified him as 29-year-old Brandon Mutum.

Homicide investigators have been assigned to the case. No arrests have been reported.