Robert HallTroopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested a man following a report of a sexual assault at a gas station just off of Interstate 80 in Lincoln County.
At approximately 10:00 p.m. Monday, August 21, troopers responded to a gas station at mile marker 179, near North Platte, upon a report from an adult female that a man had assaulted her while they were traveling in a vehicle. The suspect had left th3rd-degreefore troopers arrived.
About an hour later, the vehicle was located by the Deuel County Sheriff’s Office at a truck stop in Big Springs. The suspect was not with the vehicle, but troopers were able to locate the suspect a short time later.
Robert Hall, 61, of Gulfport, Mississippi, was arrested for 3rd degree sexual assault, making terroristic threats, and attempted 1st degree sexual assault. He was lodged in Lincoln County Jail.
Michelle SeidlerThe former director of the North Platte Kids Academy is facing charges after authorities say she stole from the organization
On April 18, 2018, the North Platte Police Department was made aware of a theft that had occurred in the 1200 block of South Ash Street.
Officers spoke to employees at the North Platte Kids Academy and learned that 41-year-old Michelle Seidler had been hired as the Executive Director in August of 2016 and was terminated from the position in January of 2018.
After Seidler’s departure, multiple discrepancies were discovered in the organization’s financial records and funds managed by Seidler.
Investigators believe Seidler used several different methods to steal the money and was able to take around $33,000 from the Kids Academy.
Officer Beth Kerr said one of the methods Seidler used was continuing to pay a former employee and diverting the money into her personal account.
Additionally, close to $11,000 in false claims were sent to the Department of Health and Human Services by Seidler, who then diverted those funds into her own account.
It was determined that there was probable cause to charge Seidler with felony theft from the Kids Academy, felony theft from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and criminal impersonation, also a felony.
Authorities were unable to locate Seidler and a warrant was issued for her arrest. On August 22, Seidler turned herself in at the Lincoln County Detention Center and was jailed.
Kari BockA North Platte woman is in jail after authorities say they found her in possession of pornographic images involving children.
Earlier this month, North Platte police received information from law enforcement in Washington County regarding a social media profile they were investigating. Investigators told police that some communications from this profile consisted of sexual activity involving minors.
Based of this information, on August 22, police executed a search on the Kari Bock residence in the 100 block of North Allen Avenue.
Police say they found Bock to be in possession of a digital image that depicted minors as “portrayed observers” to sexually explicit conduct.
Bock was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center. She’s been charged with possession of child pornography.
The investigation began in Kennard, Nebraska.
Authorities there arrested 32-year-old Eric Schulkey for allegedly trying to entice hundreds of women into engaging in illegal and inappropriate acts with children.
Authorities in Washington County say Bock and a woman from Topeka, Kansas exchanged photos and videos with Schulkey.
It is unknown if Bock will face charges in Washington County as well.
Police say Schulkey contacted over 600 Facebook accounts and engaged in conversation with at least 30 to 40 individuals, most of whom were women.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A fraternity has asked a district court judge to tell University of Nebraska-Lincoln administrators they must turn over correspondence relating to the frat’s suspension.
In March 2017 the university suspended the Phi Gamma Delta chapter for three years. Members had been accused of making vulgar comments to women during the January 2017 Women’s March in Lincoln. Administrators say an investigation uncovered what they described as reckless alcohol use, hazing and inappropriate sexually based behavior.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the frat filed records requests in December. The university turned over some records on May 25 but withheld nearly 1,700 others under a state provision allowing “records developed or received by law enforcement agencies and other public bodies charged with duties of investigation” to be exempted from public searches.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha World-Herald is eliminating 23 positions from its staff, including 10 employees who were laid off.
The layoffs were announced Tuesday in a memo to the newspaper’s staff. The company will also leave eight jobs unfilled, and five other employees will retire.
Omaha World-Herald President Phil Taylor says in the memo the newspaper’s print advertising revenue continues to decline in certain categories, including large national retailers.
Sue Violi, the newspaper’s community relations director, says the cuts amount to 3 percent of the World-Herald’s workforce. Violi says the newspaper has seen rapid digital subscription growth but faces a “very difficult” transition.
The Omaha World-Herald is owned by Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The company announced in June it had struck a deal with Iowa-based chain Lee Enterprises to manage its newspapers.
HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A Hastings construction company has been fined for safety violations following the death of a worker there earlier this year.
Television station KSNB reports that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined M&M Industrial Construction $17,000 for six safety violations that investigators say led to the man’s death.
Rafael Ayala Orozco, of Grand Island, died Jan. 26 when he fell about 60 feet from a platform at a fertilizer plant construction site near Hastings.
An OSHA investigation determined that the 39-year-old Orozco was not using fall protection at the time of his death. OSHA says the company violated federal safety codes covering use of aerial lifts, use of hoists and rigging, training and fall protection.
OSHA says M&M Industrial has since taken steps to comply with federal regulations.
Paul ClarkLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of helping kill another man in Lincoln over a drug debt has taken a plea deal.
Lancaster County District Court records say 36-year-old Paul Clark pleaded no contest Tuesday to assault and weapons charges. Prosecutors dropped or lowered other charges, which included kidnapping and second-degree murder. He’s accused of helping 37-year-old Dominic Aguirre kill 35-year-old Phillip Madlock on June 28 last year.
Clark’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
Aguirre has pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnapping and other charges. His trial is set to begin Feb. 4.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Health officials say a resident of the Omaha area has died from complications related to the West Nile virus.
The Douglas County Health Department said Wednesday that the person was 66 or older, had been hospitalized and had underlying health conditions.
The department says the number of Douglas County cases is significantly higher than last year. The 11 cases to date in Douglas County include 10 confirmed in the past week, compared with seven for all of 2017.
The virus is spread to people through the bites of mosquitoes that fed on infected birds. Most people who test positive will either have no symptoms or mild flu-like signs. Some may experience headache, body aches, vomiting, fatigue or weakness.
The disease can be fatal. The state reported two deaths last year.
Ashley BeanWAVERLY, Neb. (AP) — A Waverly mother accused of being drunk and rolling onto her infant son, smothering him, has pleaded not guilty to a felony child abuse charge.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that an attorney for 35-year-old Ashley Bean issued a statement Wednesday criticizing the sheriff’s investigation into the baby’s death. He says a thorough medical examination would have shown the boy died from sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
Investigators say Bean was highly intoxicated Dec. 17 when she fell asleep in the bed with her son, Axel Xavier Arizola, causing his death.
Court documents say Bean’s blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit to drive, two hours after deputies were called to the home.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State officials say an insect that’s killed millions of ash trees in the U.S. has been found further west into Nebraska.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture says the emerald ash borer has been found in Lincoln and Fremont. The insect was found in a baited trap in Lincoln set up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of a national survey.
In Fremont, an ash tree with signs indicating an infestation was also recently discovered.
Infected trees usually lose leaves at the top of the canopy and the die-off spreads downward. The trees usually die within four years.
The insects are native to Asia and were first reported in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002. They were first detected in Nebraska in Omaha and Greenwood in June 2016.
