LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 36-year-old man who police say used a belt to beat his girlfriend has been given 25 to 35 years in prison.

Local media says Judge Stephanie Stacy told Robert Clayborne at sentencing on Tuesday that he was a serial abuser. Stacy cited Clayborne’s record of jail sentences and assault prosecutions in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Washington.

Clayborne told the judge that he wasn’t a danger to society and that he just has a problem with women.

Police say Clayborne used a belt to beat his girlfriend on Dec. 27 after he accused her of cheating on him.

She says the beating lasted two hours. Clayborne said in court on Tuesday that the beating lasted only 15 minutes.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 21-year-old Lincoln man has been given eight to 12 years in prison on allegations that he’d abused his girlfriend’s 19-month-old son.

Local media says Kenvon Erving had pleaded no contest to attempted child abuse causing serious injury. He was sentenced on Tuesday.

Erving had told police the boy fell off a couch while he was watching him June 4 last year. The boy was diagnosed with four broken ribs and a tear to his small intestine.

Erving already is serving prison time for theft and burglary.

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Another mountain lion sighting has been reported to the York County Sheriff’s Office.

But this one has been confirmed by Sheriff Dale Radcliff, who’s the one making the report.

Radcliff told local media “there’s absolutely no doubt, no doubt at all, that what I saw was a mountain lion.”

His department has been receiving calls about mountain lions from county residents for more than a year, but none of the sightings has been confirmed.

Radcliff says he and his wife saw the big cat about 8:30 a.m. on June 20, about two blocks north of York Middle School in York. It walked into a cornfield after it noticed them.

Mountain lions, which also are called cougars or pumas, have turned up as far east in Nebraska as Omaha.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 58-year-old Omaha man has been given five years in a federal prison for selling crack cocaine.

Prosecutors say Frederick Newby was sentenced on Monday. He’d been convicted of selling more than 2 ounces of crack cocaine in August 2011.

Newby must serve four years of supervised release after he leaves prison.

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Two workers have suffered chemical burns from a leaking ammonia line at a cold storage plant in York.

Local media reports that the line at York Cold Storage broke a little before 11 a.m. Tuesday.

York Fire Chief Kevin Stuhr says workers were doing maintenance work when the line broke.

The two workers were taken to hospitals. Their names and conditions haven’t been released.

The building was evacuated soon after the leak occurred. Stuhr says the leak occurred where only the two injured people were working, so no one else needed treatment.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued fire danger warnings for southern Nebraska counties stretching from Colorado east to Thayer County.

The red flag warning goes into effect at 11 a.m. Wednesday and will last until 9 p.m.

The weather service cites a combination of factors in issuing the warning, including expected temperatures ranging up to 113, low humidity and winds gusting to 35 mph.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging Nebraskans to attend a professional fireworks show to celebrate July Fourth instead of shooting off their own fireworks.

The office says much of the state is experiencing extremely dry weather with great potential for fires.

For those who can’t resist putting on their own show, the Fire Marshal’s office says residents should first make sure fireworks are legal in their areas before buying or using them.

The office also offers these tips:

— Never allow young children to play with fireworks.

— Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown paper, which is often a sign that they were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.

— Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of fire.

WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — A 36-year-old Omaha man has been given 20 to 60 months in prison for not paying child support.

A news release from the office of Saunders County Attorney Scott Tingelhoff says William John was convicted of four counts of felony criminal nonsupport.

The office says John owes more than $41,000 in back support.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge says a woman’s lawsuit against the Scottsbluff police chief claiming harassment can continue.

Tamara Villanueva is suing Chief Alex Moreno and the city. She claims she had a relationship with Moreno after she sought police help with a domestic situation, and then Moreno harassed her after the relationship ended.

Local media says U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf  on Monday denied a request by Moreno and the city to dismiss Villanueva’s claims.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says tougher fire restrictions are planned for the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands because of extremely dry and hot conditions and the threat of wildfires.

The Forest Service says the entire area is moving into a stage two fire restriction order. That includes no campfires, no explosives, no welding and no smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.

The order covers the Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests and the Buffalo Gap, Ft. Pierre and Oglala National Grasslands, which have been under stage one restrictions since late March.

The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands are located in central and western Nebraska and western South Dakota. The area is made up of two national forests, three national grasslands and a tree nursery.