A 32-year-old North Platte man is behind bars following an alleged assault involving a knife.
At around 12:10 a.m., on January 31, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to a residence in the 300 block of South Sycamore, on the report of a physical disturbance that had taken place at an earlier time.
Officers met with a 38-year-old female, who alleged that she had gotten into an argument with James Henley, Jr.
She alleged that Henley began throwing property, and attempted to leave with property belonging to her.
The victim stated that when she tried to stop him, Henley grabbed a 5.5 inch knife, placed it on her throat and threatened her.
Henley then allegedly pushed the victim to the ground and left the scene.
A short time later, officers located Henley at room at the Cedar Lodge Motel, 421 Rodeo Road.
Following further investigation, officers determined there was probable cause to place Henley under arrest.
He was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center, and jailed on charges of felony terroristic threats, felony possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, use of a weapon to commit a felony and 3rd degree domestic assault.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Intoxicated minors who seek medical help for themselves or a friend could avoid alcohol charges in Nebraska under a bill in a legislative committee.
The proposal drew support Monday from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln police and an administrator at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
The measure by Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln would give limited legal immunity to underage drinkers who are intoxicated, call for medical assistance and cooperate with authorities.
Morfeld says the bill is designed to prevent alcohol deaths. In September, former University of Nebraska-Lincoln freshman Clayton Real died of acute alcohol poisoning in his fraternity room after an off-campus party.
If it passes, Nebraska would join 21 other states with similar policies.
Wendell Matthews (right) and his attorney, Robert Lindemeier, meet with the media on Monday morning. Sexual assault charges against Matthews were dismissed by the State on Monday.
A North Platte man who was accused of molesting a young girl has had charges against him dismissed.
In December of 2013, North Platte police received a report of a sexual assault of a child.
It was alleged that Wendell Matthews had sexual intercourse with a girl when she was between the ages of seven and eight.
Following an investigation, charges of 1st degree sexual assault of a child were filed against Matthews.
The trial in the case was supposed to begin this week.
On February 2, the State of Nebraska dismissed charges against Matthews.
According to Matthews’ attorney, Robert Lindemeier, “the State got it right.”
Lindemeier said the accusations against Matthews were completely false.
“The State presented no physical evidence in this case,” Lindemeier said. “I’ve never been so sure of someone’s innocence.”
Lindemeier said the investigation of the case was mishandled from the beginning.
He said when the case was reviewed by his staff and Cooper Investigations, they found that the allegations were full of far-fetched stories that didn’t add up.
“They (law enforcement) heard the allegations and assumed it was true,” Lindemeier said.
But, Lindemeier said, the physical evidence didn’t support the allegations against Matthews.
Lindemeier praised Lincoln County Deputy Attorney, Jennifer Clements, saying she was faced with a very difficult decision when deciding whether to proceed with trial, or not. He said Clements made the right decision based on the evidence, or lack thereof, revealed during the investigation.
At the time of his arrest last February, Matthews was a Dean’s List student at North Platte Community College, and was close to graduating. Since the allegations, Matthews says he has been portrayed as a “monster” on social media sites, his car has been vandalized and he receives stares from the public.
However, Matthews gave high praise to his attorney and his staff.
“If not for Mr. Lindemeier and his staff, who knows what would have happened,” said Matthews.
The State dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning charges could be brought against Matthews in the future.
Lindemeier said, based on his conversations with the County Attorney’s office, he doesn’t think charges will be brought again.
Two people were seriously injured in a weekend ATV accident south of North Platte.
On Saturday, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and North Platte Fire/Rescue responded to the report of an ATV accident near East Brown Road. It was reported that two subjects were badly injured.
Deputies arrived and located the accident in a cornfield, on private property.
The investigation revealed that the ATV was being driven by 29-year-0ld Sean Baker, of McCook, NE. He was accompanied by a passenger, 29-year-old Tahnee Sanders of Lebanon, NE.
Deputies say Baker had been drinking and was operating the vehicle at a high rate of speed when it rolled, ejecting both he and Sanders.
Both subjects were seriously injured and were transported to Great Plains Health. Sanders was then transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Deputies don’t believe either subject was wearing a seatbelt or a helmet.
The investigation is ongoing. No charges have been filed.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — People are confronting slick roads, massive snowdrifts and bone-chilling cold in much of Nebraska and Iowa as the region continues digging out from a massive winter storm.
Dozens of districts in both states canceled or planned a late start to classes on Monday.
In Nebraska, Omaha Public Power District officials say nearly 250 customers remained without electricity by 7:30 a.m. At the peak of the outages, more than district 19,700 customers had no power.
Wind chills down to minus 15 were reported for Omaha overnight. On Monday morning in Sioux City, Iowa, the wind chill dipped to minus 22.
In Johnson County, Iowa, a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old son were rescued by snowmobile after becoming stuck in their vehicle near Hills on Sunday evening.
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Wind chill values as low as -10. South southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. South wind 8 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. North northwest wind 6 to 13 mph becoming northeast in the evening.
Wednesday: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 22. North northeast wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5.
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The future of a planned halfway house for federal prisoners under construction in Kearney remains uncertain because a similar facility in Hastings objected.
The federal Bureau of Prisons is evaluating which of the two facilities to contract with going forward.
The Bristol Station re-entry facility for federal prisoners has been operated in Hastings by Western Alternative Corrections in Hastings.
After Dismas Charities, which is based in Louisville, Kentucky, publicized its plans for a new halfway house in Kearney, the operators of the Hastings facility objected. Then the federal government rescinded its contract award to Dismas and began re-evaluating the plan.
Dismas operates residential re-entry centers in 13 U.S. states.
Both companies are waiting to hear federal officials’ decision.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — At least two people died on snowy roads in Nebraska on Sunday, and authorities are urging people not to drive unless necessary.
On Interstate 80 in Lincoln, a 30-year-old truck driver from Illinois died after his semitrailer collided with another semitrailer truck around 8:15 a.m.
Lincoln Police Capt. Danny Reitan says the driver who wasn’t identified died at a Lincoln hospital.
Saunders County officials say a 62-year-old woman was killed in a head-on collision that also injured three people around noon Sunday. That crash happened on Highway 92 between Wahoo and Yutan.
By Sunday afternoon, the Iowa Department of Transportation was recommending that people stay off the roads if possible because of snow and ice on the roads. Travel was especially dangerous in eastern Iowa.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Despite resounding voter support last year to increase the minimum wage, Nebraska lawmakers could find themselves debating the issue yet again.
A legislative committee on Monday will review two new minimum wage bills. One would boost the wage for restaurant workers who rely on tips, while the other would let employers pay the state’s old $7.25-an-hour wage to high school students in entry-level jobs.
The debate follows last year’s campaign victory for the statewide ballot measure that boosted Nebraska’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8 this year. The wage will increase again to $9 in 2016.
Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, a leader in last year’s ballot campaign, says the election shows clear public support for such measures, which lawmakers should heed.
CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old Chadron State College student from California whose body has been found in a campus residence hall.
The body of 19-year-old Fatima Larios, of Seaside, California, was found around 2:30 a.m. Saturday in the residence hall named High Rise.
Larios was a Chadron State softball player.
Dawes County Attorney Vance Haug, who also serves as the county coroner, says the preliminary investigation leads him to believe Larios’ death was not the result of foul play. But Haug says an autopsy and toxicological screening has been ordered.
