LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Republican Party is criticizing an Omaha senator who’s leading an investigation into the state’s prisons.
GOP Chairman J.L. Spray on Monday called for Sen. Steve Lathrop, a Democrat, to resign from the investigations committee.
Spray says Lathrop made “biased and prejudicial comments” last week while defending Democratic congressional candidate Brad Ashford from an attack by Republican incumbent Rep. Lee Terry, of Omaha.
Terry tried to connect Ashford with Nikko Jenkins, who killed four people in Omaha last year after his release from prison. Terry alleged that a committee Ashford leads failed to reform Nebraska’s “good time” law.
Lathrop blamed the Department of Correctional Services and noted that it’s run by Republican Gov. Dave Heineman.
The Nebraska Democratic Party says the state GOP is trying to silence the investigation.
A North Platte man will spend the next six to ten years in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.
Wesley Sharp, 41, appeared in Lincoln County District Court for sentencing on Monday.
According to prosecutors, North Platte Police launched a sexual assault investigation, in January, after the girl reported that Sharp had sexually assaulted her with digital penetration on multiple occasions.
The juvenile told officers that she had slept over at Sharp’s house in early January. She alleged that Sharp insisted that she sleep in the same bed as he and his wife.
The girl said she fell asleep in the bed and awoke to find Sharp assaulting her.
The next day, prosecutors say Sharp assaulted the girl again as he gave her a ride home.
After further investigation, officers learned that the abuse had been taking place over a three-year period.
Deputy Lincoln County Attorney, Jennifer Clements, asked the court to sentence Sharp to a lengthy prison sentence due to the many aggravating circumstances of the case, saying Sharp was in a position of trust with the victim.
Sharp’s attorney, Blaine Gillette, asked the court to remember that this was not a case of full-blown sexual intercourse.
He claimed that, while sharp admitted to the act, his memory is clouded due to alcohol and medication he was taking for an injured back.
Gillette also pointed out that Sharp had saved the court the time and expense of a trial, and prevented the witness from testifying by entering a plea to the charges.
Judge Donald Rowlands noted the fact that Sharp did indeed enter a plea in the case, but also made note of Sharp’s extensive criminal record, which dated back to 1992.
Judge Rowlands said Sharp’s relationship to the victim and the age difference between he and the victim, made the offense aggravated.
Rowlands then sentenced Sharp to not less that six nor more than ten years in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.
He was given credit for 271 days already served in jail and must register as a sex offender.
A 72-year-old North Platte man has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting two female juveniles.
Francisco Garcia was arraigned in Lincoln County District Court on Monday.
According to prosecutors, two female juveniles, ages 12 and 13, were swimming at Sixth Dimensions Apartments, 221 West Francis Street, on June 4, when Garcia invited them up to his apartment.
Garcia then allegedly paid the girls to perform a sex act and sexually assaulted them.
Garcia was arrested on August 12, and charged with two counts of 1st degree sexual assault of a child.
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol Troop C-Grand Island made three Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests during a weekend special enforcement in and around Buffalo County.
The special enforcement included a vehicle check point and high visibility patrols during the evening hours on Friday, Oct. 3 and the early morning hours on Saturday, Oct. 5, in an effort to reduce the potential for serious injury and fatality crashes.
In addition to the three DWI arrests, citations and warnings were issued for speeding (2), Open Container (3), Minor in Possession of Alcohol (1), Misdemeanor Drug Possession (4), Seat Belt violation (3) and Child Restraint violation (1).
A $2,850 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS) helped to pay for the special enforcement effort.
Police have charged a North Platte woman with misdemeanor child abuse after she allegedly spanked her child multiple times, in an unlawful manner.
At around 9:30 a.m., on October 4, officers with the North Platte Platte Police Department responded to the report of possible child abuse in the 1100 block of West 10th Street.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, the complainant alleged that 30-year-old Stephanie Gutherless has assaulted an 8-year-old female.
It was alleged that Gutherless pushed the child down and spanked her multiple times.
Brown said the manner of punishment was “inconsistent with corporal punishment.”
According to Nebraska law:
It is abuse to knowingly, intentionally, or negligently cause or permit a child to be cruelly punished. § 28-710. [Criminal Code] Parent/guardian/person responsible for care and supervision/person acting at one of the above’s request is justified to use force on a minor if for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of minor, including prevention or punishment of misconduct, but not designed to cause or known to create a substantial risk of causing death, serious bodily harm, disfigurement, extreme pain, mental distress, or gross degradation. § 28-1413. [Criminal Code] If the belief that the force is necessary is a reckless or negligent belief, than the above offers no defense to a crime, if the culpability of that crime is proven by showing recklessness or negligence. Justification is not available if person recklessly or negligently injured or created a substantial risk of injury to a person. § 28-1414. [Criminal Code]
Additional witnesses told officers that Gutherless had been up for hours and appeared to be very emotional.
Officers believed that, based on their observations, Gutherless was under the influence of methamphetamine.
Following futher investigation, it was determined that probable cause existed to charge Gutherless with child abuse.
She was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.
Police did not comment on the whereabouts of the child.
HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska farmers and ranchers who want to fix some of their equipment will be able to save a little money, now that the state has dropped its sale and use tax on repair and replacement parts.
The state last week dropped the taxes it had been charging on repair and replacement parts for agricultural machinery and equipment that qualify. The change was prompted by legislation the Legislature passed earlier this year. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Annette Dubas, of Fullerton.
The Nebraska Farm Bureau has cited estimates that the state’s farmers and ranchers collectively will save between $9 million and $10 million a year.
A North Platte woman is facing multiple charges following a report of suspicious activity on Sunday evening.
At around 8:30 p.m., on October 5, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of drug activity in the 800 block of North Vine Street.
Officers arrived in the area, and located two 20-year-old suspects inside a parked Ford Explorer.
An officer observed an open beer can in the center console of the vehicle, which led to a search of the vehicle.
During the search, officers located a purse containing several Clonazepam pills and a fake Nebraska identification.
Following further investigation, Savannah Welsh was placed under arrest and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of a fictitious ID.
She was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
A 21-year-old North Platte man is in jail on felony charges after he allegedly burglarized a residence.
At around 3:50 p.m., on October 3, an officer with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of a burglary in the 500 block of North Allen.
A 43-year-old male told the officer that London Renfrow broke into his home.
He alleged that Renfrow had been denied access to the home for about a week, and claimed he used hand tools to force open a door.
Renfrow then allegedly stole the keys to a 2008 Ford F150, and drove off in the truck.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, the victim located both the truck and Renfrow at a residence in the 3400 block of Sunset Avenue.
The victim told the officer that he was able to get the keys to the pickup back before Renfrow departed on foot.
Officers soon located Renfrow in an empty home near the victim’s residence.
He was placed under arrest and charged with felony burglary.
He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
EDDYVILLE, Neb. (AP) — The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office says a central Nebraska man has been killed and two people have been injured in a single-vehicle crash.
Deputies say 23-year-old driver Randy Martinez of Broken Bow was pronounced dead at the scene on Sunday near Eddyville. A 17-year-old girl from Callaway was taken to a Kearney hospital. A 23-year old man was flown to that hospital. Their conditions are unclear.
Deputies say they believe alcohol contributed to the crash. They say the people weren’t wearing their seat belts and that the driver and the man were ejected from the truck after it rolled into a hayfield.
The Nebraska State Patrol is assisting with the investigation.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Republican Party is criticizing an Omaha senator who’s leading an investigation into the state’s prisons.
