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Nebraska court orders resentencing for inmate serving life

Sidney Thieszen
Sidney Thieszen

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man serving life in prison for killing his 12-year-old sister when he was 14 will get a new sentence.

The Nebraska Supreme Court ordered the resentencing for Sydney L. Thieszen in a ruling issued Friday.

Thieszen had filed a motion for post-conviction relief in 2013 in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared mandatory life-without-parole sentences unconstitutional for juvenile offenders. A district court judge granted Thieszen’s motion, and prosecutors appealed.

Thieszen was convicted in 1988 of killing his sister, Sacha Thieszen, at their home near Henderson. Prosecutors say Thieszen killed his sister because he was afraid she would tell police he was running away from home.

Father takes plea deal instead of 2nd trial in baby’s death

Ryan Kozisek
Ryan Kozisek

YORK, Neb. (AP) — A man granted a second York County trial in the death of his infant daughter has taken a plea deal instead.

Court records say Ryan Kozisek, formerly of Gresham, pleaded no contest Tuesday to attempted child abuse. Prosecutors had lowered the charge and dropped another.

In March the Nebraska Appeals Court said Kozisek should get a retrial because an admission of opinion made by his ex-wife regarding his involvement in the baby’s death was prejudicial. The baby died Jan. 25, 2011, a day after Kozisek called 911 to report she wasn’t breathing.

The plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation from both parties that Kozisek be given 35-40 years in prison, rather than the 35-50 he previously faced. His sentencing is set for Jan. 9.

Wahoo lawyer gets probation, house arrest in US tax case

dept.-of-justiceLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Wahoo lawyer has been given two years of probation and house arrest for filing a false federal tax return.

62-year-old Kent Trembly was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Lincoln. He’s already paid most of the more than $110,000 in restitution.

Court records say Trembly didn’t report any gross receipts from his legal work or work as a veterinarian or investment broker for the 2006 and 2007 tax years.

His lawyer says Trembly initially wanted to challenge the legality of filing income taxes. But Trembly told the judge that he now understands that he was wrong.

Lincoln boy fighting for life after being hit by truck

ambulance-lightsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 7-year-old boy is in a Lincoln hospital with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a truck as he crossed the street to go to school.

Lincoln Police Officer Katie Flood says a northbound pickup hit the boy Thursday morning as he crossed the street in the crosswalk in front of Saratoga Elementary School.

Lincoln Public Schools spokeswoman Mindy Burbach says there is a traffic light at the crosswalk. Police say no traffic citations were immediately issued.

The boy’s name has not been released.

Fire guts historic downtown Seward building

fire-graphicSEWARD, Neb. (AP) — Fire has gutted an historic downtown Seward building that housed an antique shop and apartments.

As many as 10 people were left homeless by the Thursday morning fire.

Firefighters battled the blaze in frigid temperatures, and the fire caused neighboring businesses to close as crews doused the buildings with water. Officials say the fire started during the night when an apartment resident lost power and tried to replace a fuse. No one was injured.

The 1918 red-brick building was part of the Historic Seward Square, a commercial district surrounding Seward County’s limestone courthouse. Known as the I.H. Feary building, it is owned by Sandra Nuttleman, who also ran the antique store downstairs.

Ex-Omaha youth football coach sentenced for grabbing player

gavel-and-scaleOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The former coach of an Omaha youth football team who angrily grabbed a 10-year-old player from an opposing team has been sentenced to five days in jail.

52-year-old Boyd Waldmann was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. He had faced up to six months in jail for the misdemeanor charge.

Witnesses told police officers the teams were exchanging high-fives after a lopsided defeat of Waldmann’s team on Sept. 24 when Waldmann grabbed an opposing player by the shirt and lifted him nearly off his feet, yelling at the boy. Waldmann later said he was angry because the boy slapped his hand too hard.

Waldmann has been banned from Omaha Suburban Athletic Association events.

Gage County’s government phone system hacked

youve-been-hackedBEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Officials say Gage County’s government phone system has been hacked.

Officials said Wednesday that they’d been notified by Windstream about a surge in calls.

Officials say most the calls were made to overseas numbers, apparently placed by the hacker or hackers.

County building and grounds supervisor Dave Jones says discussions about blocking such calls will be held.

Nebraska facility staffer who bore teen’s child convicted in sex case

Jamie Bishop
Jamie Bishop

YORK, Neb. (AP) — A 38-year-old woman has been convicted of having sex with a teenager at a York facility for troubled children.

Online court records say Jamie Bishop, of Seward, pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony sexual assault of a minor. Her sentencing is set for Jan. 23.

Court documents say Bishop and the 15-year-old had sex several times in his room or on the grounds at Epworth Village from January to July last year. She bore a child last December, and authorities say DNA tests prove the boy’s paternity.

An Epworth Village administrator says Bishop no longer works there.

Woman recaptured after brief escape from jail in Beatrice

jailBEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an inmate is facing another charge after a brief escape from the Gage County Detention Center in Beatrice.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office says 35-year-old Melissa Klassen was being taken to her cell by a jailer a little before 3 p.m. Tuesday when she pushed the jailer and shut a door, trapping the officer. Then Klassen ran out of the building.

The jailer used a radio to report the escape, and deputies caught Klassen in the front yard of the Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities say she’ll face an escape charge in addition to the theft and drug charges that already have been filed against her. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

Air show at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha canceled

offutt-air-force-baseBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Officials with Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha say the base’s popular annual air show and open house set for next summer has been canceled.

The base’s 55th Wing sent a news release Wednesday announcing the cancellation of the 2017 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show, which had been scheduled for July 1-2. The Navy’s Blue Angels precision fighter jet team was to headline the show.

Col. Marty Reynolds, 55th Wing commander, cited increased demands for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions for the cancellation.

The last time the base canceled the show was in 2015 for runway repairs.

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