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Suspect in Fatal Nebraska Crash Fails to Show for Court

Eswin Mejia
Eswin Mejia
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man suspected of being drunk and drag racing when he caused a fatal crash has skipped court.

A judge revoked 19-year-old Ewsin Mejia’s $50,000 bail on Friday when Mejia failed to show for his preliminary hearing. Officials weren’t surprised, as Mejia earlier this month skipped urine tests required for him remain free on $5,000 bond. Police have not been able to find Mejia — a Honduras national believed to have been in the country illegally.

Police say Mejia’s blood-alcohol content more than three times the legal limit when he crashed on Jan. 29 into an SUV, killing its driver, 21-year-old Sarah Root.

Criticism has been levied at legal officials for allowing Mejia’s $5,000 bond to go unchallenged, as well as federal immigration officials for not seeking to hold Mejia.

Nebraska Mom Convicted in ‘Mommy Dearest’ Duct Tape Case

gavel-moreNEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska City mother has been convicted of child abuse for having her boyfriend force her two sons to watch the movie “Mommie Dearest.”

Court records say 28-year-old Mary Lucas pleaded no contest to negligent child abuse. Her sentencing is set for April 12.

Authorities say Mary Lucas’ boyfriend at the time duct-taped the unruly 4- and 5-year-old boys to chairs while the movie played as he baby-sat them in August. Authorities say 30-year-old Glenn Oliver says Lucas told him to make them watch the movie, which depicted actress Joan Crawford as a mean mother. Court records say Oliver thought Lucas wanted to show the boys that she was not the meanest mother.

Oliver awaits sentencing Tuesday on two counts of child abuse.

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts to Headline Religious Liberty Event

Pete Ricketts
Pete Ricketts

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is set to headline a religious liberty event at the Capitol.

The event will take place Monday at noon in the Warner Chamber. Ricketts will sign a proclamation on religious liberty in the public square and will deliver the event’s keynote address.

Faith leaders are expected to gather for the public event. Archbishop George Lucas of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha will speak, as will Lincoln attorney Jeff Downing.

Ricketts spoke at a similar event last year to tout his support for public expressions of faith without fear of legal repercussions.

Nebraska High Court Revives Woman’s Lawsuit Against Deputy

lancaster-county-sheriffOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court says a jury should decide whether a plainclothes deputy who had no visible badge or warrant was wrong to push his way into an elderly woman’s home and later throw her to the ground and handcuff her.

The court’s decision Friday revives the lawsuit of 81-year-old Marilyn Waldron against Lancaster County Sheriff’s Deputy James Roark.

Court records show Roark and another deputy were trying to serve a warrant when Roark pushed through the door as Waldron opened it. He said he was a deputy, but did not show a badge or warrant. He later tackled and handcuffed Waldron as she yelled at him to leave.

The high court says a jury might be swayed that Waldron thought Roark was simply claiming to be law enforcement.

Uncle of Omaha Man Convicted of 4 Slayings Takes Plea Deal

gavel-and-scaleOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The uncle of an Omaha man convicted of killing four people has pleaded no contest to being an accomplice in a 2013 murder and for attempted robbery.

Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon sentenced Warren Levering to 40 years in prison Friday for his role in the August 2013 murder of Andrea Kruger. A first-degree murder charge was dropped in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Nikko Jenkins, who is Levering’s nephew, was convicted in the death of Kruger and three other people. Prosecutors say Levering was with Jenkins when he carjacked and killed Kruger.

Television station WOWT reports that Levering’s sentence includes 20 years for the accessory to murder charge and 20 years for attempted robbery. The sentences will run consecutively. He was given credit for 893 days already served.

Lincoln Man Accused of Stealing from IRS Indicted

irsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 35-year-old Lincoln man accused of stealing $15,000 from the IRS over two years he worked for the agency has been indicted on a federal charge in the case.

Andrew Sutter faces one count of theft of federal property.

The indictment says Sutter stole $15,069 from the agency from July 2013 through September 2015.

Sutter is scheduled to appear in federal court in Lincoln on March 8.

Online court records do not list an attorney for Sutter, and a phone number for Sutter could not be found Saturday.

Norfolk Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography

jailMADISON, Neb. (AP) — A 51-year-old Norfolk man has been sentenced to prison for possession of child pornography.

William Walter was sentenced Friday in Madison County District Court to six to 12 years in prison.

A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to a search of Walter’s home on April 1. Prosecutors say child pornography was found on a laptop, tower computer and several DVDs and CDs seized from Walter’s home.

Walter must serve nearly three years before he’s eligible for parole. He must also register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Lincoln Mother Cited After 4-Year-Old Found Wandering Street

lincoln-policeLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln woman whose 4-year-old daughter was found wandering a city street earlier this week has been cited on suspicion of child neglect.

A passerby alerted police that the child was walking around alone and had crossed several streets on Thursday afternoon. Police spokeswoman Katie Flood says the child was found about a block from her home.

Officers later found the girl’s 27-year-old mother, who told police the girl was sick and had been left at home while the mother went to pick up another child from school.

First Flu-Related Death Reported to Nebraska Health Officials

Medical-ChartLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials say the first flu-related death this season has been reported in the state.

Officials with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday that a young child in a region of northeastern Nebraska has died from the flu.

Test results showed the seasonal flu virus was a factor in the child’s death, but the child also tested positive for several other respiratory viruses.

The child was in a region that includes Burt, Cuming, Madison and Stanton counties. The child also spent time in an area that includes Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 13 children have died nationally from the flu this season.

Health officials say the flu continues to circulate at moderate levels in Nebraska.

Bellevue Police ID Man Who Died After Arrest

bellevue-policeBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Bellevue police say a man has died after he stopped breathing during an arrest.

Authorities say Alex Zoucha, of Bellevue, died after a struggle with officers in which they shot him with a stun gun.

Officers were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and found Zoucha trying to break into a house.

Officials say Zoucha didn’t respond to their demands, prompting them to use a stun gun with little effect until he suddenly became unresponsive.

Officers performed CPR, and Zoucha was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The four officers, Allison Evans, Holly McQuaid, Ashley Meyers, and Anthony Orsi, were placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy.

State law says that whenever someone dies in custody or while being arrested, a grand jury must review the case.

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