LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The son of Sean Penn and Robin Wright has been arrested on drug possession charges in Nebraska.
A Nebraska State Patrol spokesman says the actors’ 24-year-old son, Hopper Penn, and his girlfriend, 26-year-old Uma Von Wittkamp, were arrested Wednesday afternoon after a trooper stopped their vehicle on Interstate 80.
Authorities say the trooper detected drug activity inside the vehicle and found 14 grams of marijuana, four amphetamine pills and 3 grams of mushrooms.
Von Wittkamp was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Penn was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Possession of a controlled substance is a felony.
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested two people and seized 381 pounds of marijuana during two separate traffic stops in Hamilton County. The two stops happened within five minutes of each other in different parts of the county.
The first stop occurred at approximately 4:32 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, when a trooper stopped a 2018 GMC Yukon for speeding on Highway 14 in Aurora. The trooper determined there was probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, troopers found 326 pounds of marijuana and 1.4 pounds of marijuana edibles.
The driver, Larry Guieb, 36, of Indiana, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and no Drug Tax Stamp.
Just a few minutes later, at approximately 4:36 p.m. troopers observed a vehicle fail to signal while traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 near Giltner at mile marker 322. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 detected that presence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle revealed 55 pounds of marijuana inside the 2017 Nissan Rogue.
The driver, John Young, 51, of California, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and no Drug Tax Stamp.
The total amount of marijuana seized in the two traffic stops was 381 pounds, with an estimated street value of $1.14 million. Both men were lodged in Hamilton County Jail.
Derrol Walter Nitz, 67, of North Platte, Nebraska died April 3, 2018 at Bryan West Hospital, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Derrol was born to Eldon and Helen (Wahl) Nitz on January 5, 1951. He was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church rural Columbus, Nebraska. He grew up on his family farm 8 miles north of Columbus until 1967 when they moved to town. There he attended Columbus Senior High School, graduating in 1969. After graduation he went to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln until joining the United States Army, spending most of his tour in Germany. After being discharged he continued his education with the G.I. bill getting his accounting degree. Later on he took tests to get his Certified Public Accountant certificate. He was employed by McChesney, Martin, Sagehorn accounting firm.
Derrol loved watching sports, old time westerns, movies, and listening to music. He loved all his nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and never forgot any of their birthdays. He also enjoyed getting together with his many special friends from North Platte at his home to watch Nebraska football, conversation, and food.
Derrol is survived by his sisters Donna (Leon) Bruhn and Donette (Ted) Petersen all of Lincoln; brothers, Delayne Nitz of Belle Fourche, SD, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and nephews, Scott and Austin Bruhn, B.J. (Raechelle), Jasmine Jones and Max Bruhn, Mike (Shelly), Hannah and Kaitlyn Bruhn, Amanda May (Kyle Gress), Logan and Brennan Gress, Grayson and Sophia May, John (Marcia), Reid Petersen, Andrew (Chandra) Kieren, and Vayda Nitz.
Derrol was preceded in death by his parents, Eldon and Helen Nitz; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 9, 2018 at the Bethel Evangelical Free Church in North Platte, NE with Pastor George Cheek officiating. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will be noon – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 8 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Jill A. Chambers, 82, formerly of North Platte, passed away March 28, 2018 in Colorado. She was born January 3, 1936 to Denzel and Francis (Bush) Jenkins at Grand Island, NE. She graduated from Grand Island Central Catholic and Kearney State Teacher’s College.
Jill’s legacy was her children and grandchildren. She loved them all unconditionally with all her heart as our LORD loves each of us. She covered over them in prayer daily. She was a prayer warrior! If you met her, even though you may not have known, she prayed for you. If you got to know her as your friend, she prayed for you and you knew and felt her prayers.
She is survived by her sons Jeff (Kathy), Jim (Shanda), Todd, and Mark (Wendy); grandchildren, Matthew, Joel, Kyle, Travis, Shawn, Lindsey, Kristen, Jeremy, Courtney and Logan; great grandchildren, Ryden, Mikayla, Brayden, Tanner and Talon; her sister, Joan Galusha; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Denzel and Francis; sisters, Jackie and Jenny; grandchildren, Isabelle, Michael, Jordyn, Ashley Nicole, Micah Lee, and Mary Ann.
Online condolence may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to the family to be donated at a later date.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 7, 2017 at Bethel Church with Pastor Andy Pull officiating. Inurnment will be 1:30 p.m. at the Gothenburg Cemetery. Those wishing to sign Jill’s memorial book may do so from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of the arrangements.
Dorothy Jean Simon, age 81 of North Platte, passed away Saturday March 31, 2018 at Great Plains Health.
Dorothy was born October 27, 1936 in Haig, NE to Jacob and Rozi (Steinhaur) Leider. She grew up around Scottsbluff, NE and married Cecil L. Simon on April 17, 1955. The couple lived in Scottsbluff before moving to North Platte in 1957 where her husband worked for the James E. Simon Construction Company. Dorothy and Cecil raised three daughters, and her family was the center of her life. She was a faithful member of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses since 1971.
Dorothy is survived by her husband Cecil L. Simon of North Platte; daughters Christine Simon, Vickie (Vance) Hardenbergh and Jennifer (Kyle) Smith all of North Platte; grandchildren Rachel (Jeremy) Webb of North Platte, John (Keontra) Griffiths of Dallas, TX, Robbyn (Sam) Raffaeli of Imperial, NE, Rebecca (Angelo) DeHerrera of North Platte, David (Brittoni) Hardenbergh of Maricopa, AZ, Vanessa (Jarod) Scheinost of North Platte, Grace Andrews of Maricopa, AZ, Kevin Hardenbergh of North Platte, Heather (Joel) Sinclair of Brady, Krystal Smith of North Platte, Lacey (Tanner) Seidel of Lincoln, NE, and Kayla (Taylor Seidel) Smith of North Platte; 14 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; brothers John Leider of Melbeda, NE, Hank (Darlene) Leider of Kissimmee, FL and Jim (Carolyn) Leider of Titusville, FL; as well as numerous other extended family members and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Jacob and Rozi Leider; siblings George, Henry, Louise, Anna, Jake, Emma and Amelia.
Memorials are suggested to the Opportunity Center in North Platte and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday April 7, 2018 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Private family inurnment will be held at a different time. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
On 4/4/18 NPPD requested assistance from the public in identifying the suspect in these robberies. Pictures of the suspect and vehicle used were released to the media and posted to social media. Within just a few hours the Lincoln County Crimestoppers hotline received several valid tips about the suspect and vehicle.
Officers were told the vehicle and suspect, Cory Tabbee, would be at a residence in the 1800 block of East 2nd street. Officers located the vehicle there and interviewed the owner of it who will not be named as they have not been charged with any crime. The owner allowed officers to search the vehicle and indicated that Corey Tabbee lived at the residence and has used their vehicle in the past.
Cory was not on scene and officers were granted a search warrant for the residence. In Cory’s room officers located clothing, a bandana, and boots that appear to match what the suspect wore during the robberies. Inside of the pickup they located a package of cigarettes that matches what kind the suspect received in the Kwik Stop robbery.
On the morning of 4/4/18 officers again went to the residence and this time located Cory who was arrested without incident. The knife or cash were not recovered. It is believed that Cory was alone when the robberies took place. Corey was incarcerated for 2 counts of robbery and use of a weapon to commit a felony.
According to Investigator John Deal, Cory Tabbee was arrested at his residence in the 1800 block of West 2nd Street. More information is expected to be released later.
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Update from NP Police (4.5.18, 10:55am)
The North Platte Police Department is investigating multiple armed robberies and is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.
Between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., on April 2, 2018, the NPPD investigated two armed robberies that occurred approximately 30 minutes apart.
In the first incident, a male dressed in all black clothing with a black bandana covering his face entered the Kwik Stop at 1420 Rodeo Rd. The suspect brandished a large kitchen knife at the clerk and demanded the cash from the register. The suspect removed cash from the drawer and left.
In the second incident, a suspect matching the same description entered Penny’s Diner and brandished a large kitchen knife at the clerk. The suspect again removed cash from the drawer and left. The suspect also entered the Kwik Stop at 9th and Jeffers but did not commit a robbery although it is believed those were his intentions.
Witnesses describe the suspect as Hispanic or Native American and being approximately 6 feet tall with an average build. It was further reported the suspect may have a scar on his nose. A maroon pickup is also believed to be involved in these incidents and it is unknown if the suspect was working alone or if there were others in the vehicle.
This suspect is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
If you have information about these incidents please call NPPD or utilize the Lincoln County Crimestoppers program.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska prison inmate whose state-required DNA test links him to four rapes more than 10 years ago in Omaha has been found guilty of those assaults.
A jury found 41-year-old Brandon Weathers guilty Tuesday of four counts of first-degree sexual assault following a weeklong trial. Immediately afterward, he was sentenced to 200 years in prison for the crimes. He is already serving 100 to 160 years for raping a 13-year-old child.
A June 5 court order gave officials authority to use force to obtain Weathers’ DNA sample, which he’d refused to provide despite a Nebraska law requiring it of all prisoners. Guards held him down and took a sample from the inside of his cheek.
Authorities say the Nebraska State Patrol lab connected the sample to the four cases.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state officials have requested an execution warrant for the state’s longest-serving death-row inmate.
Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to grant an execution warrant for Carey Dean Moore, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1979 shooting deaths of two Omaha cab drivers.
Nebraska hasn’t executed an inmate since 1997 when inmate Robert Williams was electrocuted for killing three women. The state has since adopted a lethal injection protocol.
The court motion says Moore has no pending appeals or stays of execution in state or federal courts. Moore has had several execution dates set, most recently in 2007 and 2011, but courts have stayed them.
An execution warrant triggers a 60-day window for state officials to carry out the execution and allows them to set a date. It’s not clear when or if the Supreme Court would issue it.
State officials notified Moore in January of the drugs they intend to use.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lawmakers have advanced a measure that would regulate Nebraska’s bottle clubs.
Sen. Theresa Thibodeau of Omaha said Tuesday the changes would require bottle clubs to receive liquor licenses, though they could still remain open until 5 a.m. Bottle clubs offer nude entertainment and allow customers to bring their own alcohol.
The measure has been attached to an omnibus liquor regulation bill. An effort to connect it to sex-trafficking legislation failed last week.
Thibodeau and Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks were both criticized on a sign outside a Waverly strip club for backing the legislation. They say repeated attempts to intimidate them have not affected their decisions.
