(AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and lengthy sentence of a Lincoln man who repeatedly raped a woman during a 2009 home invasion.

Armon Dixon was sentenced last year to 80 to 140 years in prison for sexual assault, robbery and a weapons charge. Police say Dixon pushed his way into an apartment, pulled a gun on the woman, threatening to kill her and her 3-year-old son, then repeatedly raped her over the next 10 hours. Dixon was already serving up to 120 years for robbing a convenience store and raping its clerk a month before the home invasion.

On Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court rejected all of Dixon’s arguments, including that he should not have been sentenced as a habitual offender and that his sentence was excessive.

 

(AP) — Omaha police say a final suspect being sought as part of a crackdown on gang-related crime has been arrested.

Police say 30-year-old Eric English was arrested Friday with the help of the Lincoln Police Fugitive task force. English had been charged earlier in a warrant with possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver.

Police say English’s arrest marks the capture of the last fugitive in a nine-month investigation by local and federal authorities called Operation Purple Haze.

Nine other men had earlier been arrested as part of the operation.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer has said all the men are considered leaders in two of the city’s most notorious gangs.

(AP) — A judge has denied bond for a 19-year-old man now charged with first-degree murder in the rape and beating death of a 93-year-old Omaha woman.

Sergio Martinez-Perez had been denied bond earlier in the week when he was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree sexual assault and burglary. The assault charge was changed to first-degree murder when Louise Sollowin died from her injuries on Wednesday, three days after she was beaten and raped in her home.

On Friday, a judge denied bond on the murder charge.

Police say officers found Martinez-Perez naked and passed out on top of the woman Sunday morning. Authorities believe Martinez-Perez entered the home through an unlocked door.

Prosecutors are weighing whether to seek the death penalty for Martinez-Perez.

(AP) — Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert says police have completed an investigation into photos of a woman at an Omaha fire station and found there was no criminal behavior.

The two photos, which were emailed to the mayor’s office on July 22, showed a woman on a fire truck and posing with two firefighters.

Stothert called the photos “inappropriate” and ordered police to investigate.

The mayor says Friday there wasn’t anything criminal about the incident but that the visit could have violated rules involving visiting hours. Firefighters involved could be subject to discipline.

The investigation found that more than 10 women attending a bachelorette party stopped by the fire station. The woman in the photos was the bachelorette.

A two-week long investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) has led to the arrest of a 22-year old Blair man on a charge of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child.

Around 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 26, NSP investigators took Trevor A. Wilwerding, 22, into custody without incident near his residence in Blair. NSP investigators with the assistance of the Blair Police Department also served a search warrant at his residence, 2066 Front Street, Blair.  The arrest follows an investigation into sexual activity which occurred over the past several months involving Wilwerding and a 15-year old juvenile female.

Wilwerding was lodged in the Washington County Jail, the investigation continues. Investigators believe there may be other victims associated with Wilwerding.

(AP) — A juror says she feels like she let Trayvon Martin’s parents down by agreeing to acquit George Zimmerman in the teen’s fatal shooting.

In a taped interview aired Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” juror B29 said jurors couldn’t find enough evidence under Florida law to convict the neighborhood watch volunteer in the February 2012 death.

The juror agreed to let ABC show her face and use her first name, Maddy. She says she “fought to the end” but stands by the verdict returned earlier this month by the six-member, all-woman jury.

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican mother says the decision was difficult.

But the juror said she wants Martin’s mother to know that her son will always be in her heart.

(AP) — The Aurora police chief remains hospitalized at a Lincoln hospital following a motorcycle crash on Interstate 80.

Bryan Medical Center spokeswoman Lori Lee said Godfrey Brokenrope was in critical condition Friday morning. Brokenrope was flown to the hospital after the accident, which occurred about 5 p.m. Thursday on eastbound I-80 near Seward.

Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins says the motorcycle couldn’t stop in time to avoid slower traffic and crashed in the median.

Brokenrope has been Aurora’s chief since 2006.

(AP) — The U.S. Park Police in Washington say the Lincoln Memorial has been temporarily closed after someone splattered a splash of green paint on the statue.

Police say the apparent vandalism was discovered around 1:30 a.m. Friday on the statue, the pedestal and the floor. No words, letters or symbols were visible in the paint.

Capt. Steven Booker says the paint spill “appears intentional based off of the splatter.” He says police are reviewing security camera footage to try to identify possible suspects.

Police say the memorial will be closed until the National Park Service maintenance crew can clean up the paint, which is expected to happen later Friday.

The memorial, one of the most popular sites on the National Mall, was dedicated in 1922 to the nation’s 16th president.

(AP) — A Lincoln man who was caught stealing steel has been given six to 10 years in prison.

Online court records say 28-year-old Joshua Hoegemeyer was sentenced Thursday to five to seven years for theft and one to three years for drug possession.

Investigators say the owner of a Lincoln field had reported the theft of several items, including steel. Investigators hid near the field on Sept. 10 last year and caught Hoegemeyer as he began using a rented skid loader to put steel onto a trailer.

He later pleaded no contest to felony theft and possession of methamphetamine.

(AP) — A Southern California husband and wife who were born on the same day and celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary last year have died just a day apart.

The couple’s son Les Brown Jr. said Thursday that 94-year-old Helen Brown died July 16 and 94-year-old Les Brown died July 17. She had stomach cancer. He had Parkinson’s disease.

The Browns were born on New Year’s Eve, 1918. Their son said his parents met in high school and eloped in 1937 at age 18 because their parents thought the marriage between a wealthy man and a working-class woman would never last. Last September they celebrated their 75th anniversary.

The couple moved to Long Beach in 1963. He was a photographer, she sold real estate.

They’ll have a joint memorial service Saturday.