We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Omaha educator remains jailed on $500K bail in sex case

Matthew Fedde

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 45-year-old suburban Omaha assistant high school principal had sex with a 15-year-old student on school grounds.

The details were made public Tuesday when a judge upheld Matthew Fedde’s $500,000 bail. Fedde remained jailed Wednesday.

Investigators say Fedde had multiple sexual encounters with the student on school grounds starting in September. Fedde was arrested last week after the girl’s parents found references to a sexual relationship with Fedde in her diary. An arrest affidavit says investigators also found text messages between the girl and Fedde.

Fedde’s lawyer, Matthew Bond, says Fedde is innocent and will fight the two felony counts of sexual assault of a child.

Fedde is on administrative leave from the Millard School District.

Spilled spuds forces I-80 closure in south-central Nebraska

GILTNER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a load of potatoes that spilled across the roadway forced closure of eastbound Interstate 80 in south-central Nebraska.

The Nebraska State Patrol says a semitrailer driver veered onto the interstate shoulder to avoid another vehicle a little before noon Wednesday. But the semi soon struck the underside of an overpass around 2 miles (3 kilometers) east of the Giltner exit. The trailer separated from the tractor and spilled the spuds.

A piece of heavy equipment was brought in to remove the potatoes, and the patrol says the lanes reopened about 4 p.m.

The truck driver wasn’t injured.

Police say Lincoln recorded no homicides last year

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say the Nebraska capital city of Lincoln recorded no homicides last year, matching the 1991 mark of zero.

Records say the city homicide toll in 2016 was 11, breaking a record that had stood for 30 years. Two years ago the city had one homicide.

Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said he believes the lack of homicides last year “is a testament to the expectations of those that live here.”

Officer Angela Sands says Lincoln police investigated 259 deaths in 2017, including 47 cases in which the cause and manner of death were not immediately apparent.

Bliemeister and city Public Safety Director Tom Casady attribute the lack of homicides last year, in part, to fewer shootings.

Omaha man imprisoned for acts after slaying of Lincoln man

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced for helping move the body of a slain man in Lincoln.

Court records say 26-year-old Sidney Jackson was given two years in prison at his sentencing Tuesday in Lincoln. He’d pleaded no contest to tampering with physical evidence. The judge credited him with 351 days already served in custody.

Jackson is one of 10 people charged in connection with the December 2016 death of 41-year-old Jamie Watson. The man believed to have pulled the trigger, Jamez Henderson, was earlier sentenced to 54 to 65 years in prison for manslaughter and drug charges.

Fire engulfs restaurant in southeast Nebraska

FALLS CITY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a fire has engulfed a restaurant in downtown Falls City in southeast Nebraska.

Other departments had been called in to help battle the blaze, which broke out Wednesday morning in a complex of buildings that includes the site for Potrillos Mexican Grill. Nearby business owners smelled smoke when they opened their doors at 9 a.m. and called 911.

No injuries have been reported. The fire cause is being investigated.

Official accused of having staffer work on websites

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A complaint filed with Nebraska campaign regulators accuses the Lancaster County treasurer of using county employees to manage his political Facebook page.

Chairman Todd Wiltgen of the Lancaster County Board Commissioners filed the complaint Tuesday with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission against Andy Stebbing. Wiltgen says Stebbing had a county technician work on Stebbing’s campaign and personal business websites.

Stebbing called the allegations untrue. The staffer resigned after reporting what he characterized as violations of county policy.

Stebbing also is criminally charged with falsifying bills of sale, filing fraudulent state income taxes and selling cars without a license. The charges stemmed from a state investigation into Stebbing’s sales of vehicles and the income he generated. He’s denied those accusations as well.

Man pleads not guilty to charge in bicyclist’s death

Zygmunt Spicha

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has pleaded not guilty to a charge stemming from a collision that killed a bicyclist in southeast Nebraska’s Lancaster County.

Court records say 66-year-old Zygmunt Spicha entered the written plea last week to vehicular homicide while under the influence. The records don’t list a trial date.

Prosecutors say 52-year-old Randall Gibson was riding his bike east on Sept. 23 when he was struck by Spicha’s eastbound SUV about 3 miles (5 kilometers) west of Sprague.

Police arrest suspect in Grand Island slaying

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a suspect in the slaying of a 19-year-old in Grand Island.

Police say 24-year-old Herbey Portillo Jr. was found hiding in a Grand Island garage Tuesday and was taken into custody without incident.

He’s accused of shooting to death Trevor Sok, whom officers found wounded around 3:45 a.m. Monday at a Grand Island home. Police say he died later at a hospital.

Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Portillo.

Man accused of ID theft in scam to steal from employer

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Clarkson man is accused of using customers’ Social Security numbers to create bogus accounts for stealing money from the rent-to-own store he was managing in Columbus.

43-year-old Michael Schnelle is charged with identity theft and related theft crimes. His lawyer didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press. Schnelle’s next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11.

Authorities say a store audit uncovered around $250,000 in losses in missing merchandise.

Court documents say store employees told investigators that, under Schnelle’s direction, they were told to create bogus accounts by using customers’ Social Security numbers but changing the names on the accounts. The employees say Schnelle told them the fake accounts were being used to “prop up” store sales numbers.

Warrant issued for suspect in Grand Island slaying

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a homeless man suspected of killing a 19-year-old in Grand Island.

Police said in a news release Tuesday that the warrant for 24-year-old Herbey Portillo Jr. lists charges of first-degree murder and a weapons crime. Police say he may be armed with a semi-automatic handgun.

He’s accused of shooting to death Trevor Sok, who officers found wounded around 3:45 a.m. Monday at a Grand Island home. Police said he died later at a hospital.

No arrest has been reported. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Portillo.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File