NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A registered sex offender has been accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Lincoln County.
Twenty-two-year-old James Hobbs III was arrested on Monday and faces two counts of sexual assault.
Authorities say the girl reported that Hobbs forced her to have sex with him twice in rural Lincoln County on Oct. 22.
Hobbs has acknowledged being with the girl but has denied having sex with her.
The Nebraska Sex Offender Registry says Hobbs is on probation for sexual assault of a minor in Red Willow County. He was convicted in February 2010.
He remains in Lincoln County custody. His attorney  from the Red Willow County case didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – Early Sunday morning, a North Platte Police Officer witnessed a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lane of North Jeffers. The driver refused to pull over and led the officer on a chase to West Highway 30 (mm 165) before being stopped by “spike strips.”
The driver was identified as 29 year old Ryan Holechek of Ogallala. Holechek was arrested and charged with 2nd offense Driving Under the Influence, Flight to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving, and other traffic offenses. His passenger, 40 year old Carlos Ayala was uncooperative at the scene and taken to jail for Resisting Arrest.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – A one-car rollover accident has left a woman hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
A news release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says 21 year old Emily Levasseur was traveling east on North River Road about three miles east of North Hershey Road. Levasseur’s 2003 Dodge Dakota pickup left the road and rolled several times. Levasseur had been ejected.
She was transported to GPRMC and later Creighton University Medical Center for further treatment. Her condition is unknown at this time.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – A police investigation into two burglaries over the weekend has led to the arrest of four North Platte men.

Around 2:25 a.m. Saturday, North Platte police were searching for 25 year old Clarence Alspaugh who was suspected of driving with a suspended license. After finding and following the vehicle, police found footprints belonging to Alspaugh and 23 year old Aaron Tuenge. Later Saturday morning, the footprints were found to match those at a burglary case reported in the 1400 block of William Avenue. Stolen property associated with Alspaugh was also found.
Both men were arrested. Alspaugh is charged with Obstructing an Officer, Burglary and Driving Under Suspension. Tuenge faces Obstructing an Officer and Burglary charges. Both remain in the Lincoln County Jail.

At 4:05 a.m. on Saturday, North Platte police observed suspicious activity in the 100 block of Rodeo Road. The suspects fled but were caught by officers. They were identified as 27 year old Ryan Markwardt and 22 year old Thomas Keefer. The two men were also believed to be connected to a break-in on the 1300 block of North Bailey. Markwardt is charged with Burglary, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, and Resisting Arrest. He also had an active local warrant. Keefer is charged with Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, and Theft by Receiving Stolen Property. Markwardt and Keefer are in police custody.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska lawmaker wants to end a state sales tax exemption on soda pop and energy drinks and use the money to fight childhood obesity.
State Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln introduced a measure (LB753) Wednesday that would channel the tax revenue into state-based efforts to promote heath. The bill would allocate $100,000 for a statewide database to monitor student obesity and fitness.
Some of the money would go to the state Department of Education to improve school meal programs and support school district wellness coordinators.
Avery introduced the bill on the first day of an expected 60-day legislative session.