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3rd Man Takes Plea Deal in Lincoln Slaying

Derick Lewis
Derick Lewis

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A third man accused in the slaying of a Lincoln man during a botched robbery has taken a plea deal.

Online court records say 23-year-old Derick Lewis, of Alton, Illinois, pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbery conspiracy. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10. Lewis was charged with murder after the Aug. 30 killing of Maurice Williams, but prosecutors amended the charge and others in return for Lewis’ guilty plea.

In April 23-year-old Jason Holmes and 26-year-old Michael Nevels pleaded no contest and were convicted of being accessories to robbery. They, too, had taken plea deals.

A trial on murder and weapons charges is scheduled to begin July 20 for a fourth man, 20-year-old Joshua Carr. He’s pleaded not guilty. He’s also known as Joshua Nootenboom-Carr.

Nebraska Woman Accused of Using Stun Gun on Teenage Daughter

columbus-policeCOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus woman has been accused of using a stun gun to shock her 13-year-old daughter.

A hearing is scheduled next week for 42-year-old Ruby Baeta, who is charged with felony child abuse. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be called to comment on Baeta’s behalf.

Columbus police say the girl and her 16-year-old sister reported that their mother shocked the younger girl around 5:30 p.m. Friday. An officer says he saw two bumps on the girl that he says could have been caused by a stun gun.

The officer says Baeta denied shocking the girl and denied owning a stun gun. He says he found a stun gun in a suitcase in a closet in the home.

 

Deputy US Marshal Kills Dog During Arrest of Man in Lincoln

us-marshalsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a deputy U.S. marshal has killed a dog as officers approached a suspect at a Lincoln home.

The shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon when officers of the Metro Fugitive Task Force went to arrest 28-year-old Johnnie Harris on a Douglas County warrant alleging misdemeanor traffic violations. A Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office incident report says that as the officers talked to Harris, a German shepherd named Corporal left a porch and approached them.

The report says the dog was “aggressively barking and growing” as he approached, and the officer shot it.

Harris was taken into custody. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be contacted to comment on Harris’ behalf.

Feds Say Ga. Woman Bought Gun Used to Kill Nebraska Officer

Officer Kerrie Orozco
Officer Kerrie Orozco

ATLANTA (AP) — Federal authorities say an Atlanta area woman bought the gun that was used to kill a police officer in Nebraska.

A statement from a federal agent filed last week in federal court in Atlanta says Jalita Johnson replied “yes” to a question on a form asking whether she was the actual buyer of the gun. In reality, the agent wrote, Marcus Wheeler gave Johnson money and told her which gun to buy for him. Wheeler was identified as her boyfriend.

Reached by The Associated Press at a number listed in court documents, Johnson said she had no comment.

Police in Omaha say Wheeler fatally shot officer Kerrie Orozco on May 20 when he opened fire on officers trying to arrest him. Wheeler was killed when another officer returned fire.

Beatrice Featured in Upcoming Horror Film ‘The Gallows’

The gallowsBEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A co-writer of the upcoming horror film, “The Gallows,” is returning for a special screening in his hometown of Beatrice, where the movie takes place.

Chris Lofing is a 2009 Beatrice High School graduate, and he co-wrote the movie that’s set to premiere in theaters Friday. He and his business partner will travel to Beatrice for a special red-carpet showing of the movie on July 24 at the Holly Theatre.

“The Gallows” takes place entirely in a fictional Beatrice high school.

A tragic accident during a 1993 school play leads to a student’s hanging. A new performance is held 20 years later, but on the eve of the play’s revival, several students find themselves trapped in the auditorium, haunted by the student’s ghost.

Army Cuts Could Grow Bigger if Budget Impasse Persists

armyWASHINGTON (AP) — The Army is moving ahead with big troop reductions that could grow even larger unless Congress and the White House find a way to stop additional across-the-board budget cuts this fall.

This is unfolding in the midst of a war against the Islamic State group that the Obama administration says is likely to require a long-term military commitment.

Army officials were notifying members of Congress on Wednesday of details of how they intend to reduce the active-duty force from 490,000 soldiers to 450,000 within two years.

The size of this reduction was settled months ago, but congressional delegations have been waiting on word of how the cuts would be distributed and timed. The biggest cuts are expected to be made at units based in Georgia and Alaska.

12-Year-Old Boy Wanted for Omaha Murder Arrested in Minnesota

omaha-policeMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A 12-year-old boy wanted in connection to a fatal shooting in Omaha has been arrested in Minneapolis.

According to a statement Tuesday from Omaha police, the 12-year-old was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and was to be booked ahead of court proceedings to return him to Nebraska.

12-year-old is one of three suspects in custody in connection with the June 29 shooting of 31-year-old Jamymell Ray near Miller Park. A 30-year-old man was wounded in the shooting but was released from the hospital the next day.

A 15-year-old and 17-year-old were arrested last week.

The Associated Press generally does not name juveniles accused of crimes.

Woman Tells Omaha Police Facebook Fight Led to Stabbing

stabbingOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman reported being stabbed in Omaha following an argument on Facebook.

The Omaha Police Department says a 26-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital early Tuesday. She told responding police that she was stabbed.

The woman says a female suspect who stabbed her had previously argued with her on Facebook. She says the women agreed to meet in person to resolve their differences.

The woman claims there was a physical confrontation and the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed her.

Authorities say they’re looking for a suspect, but no arrests have been made.

Indiana, Federal Authorities Raid Home of Subway Spokesman

jared-fogleZIONSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Here are the latest developments in Tuesday’s raid at the home of Subway restaurant chain spokesman Jared Fogle (all times are local):

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2:45 p.m.

An attorney for Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle says his client is cooperating with authorities who raided his suburban Indianapolis home early Tuesday.

Attorney Ron Elberger released a statement several hours after the raid that says Fogle “has been cooperating, and continues to cooperate, with law enforcement in their investigation of unspecified charges, and looks forward to its conclusion.”

Authorities have declined to comment on the raid at Fogle’s house in Zionsville or describe the nature of the investigation.

Subway says the company believes the raid “is related to a prior investigation of a former Jared Foundation employee.”

In May, federal prosecutors charged 43-year-old Russell Taylor with production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Taylor is the former head of the Jared Foundation.

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12:35 p.m.

Subway says a raid at the home of its spokesman Jared Fogle is likely linked to an investigation into an employee at the foundation he founded to combat childhood obesity.

In a brief emailed statement Tuesday, the restaurant chain expresses shock and concern at the raid on Fogle’s Indiana home.

Subway says the company believes the raid “is related to a prior investigation of a former Jared Foundation employee.”

In May, federal prosecutors in Indianapolis charged 43-year-old Russell Taylor with seven counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Taylor is the former head of the Jared Foundation.

A Subway representative, Cindy Carrasquilla, didn’t respond when asked for more details.

Fogle became a Subway spokesman after losing 245 pounds by regularly eating Subway sandwiches.

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10:20 a.m.:

FBI agents and Indiana State Police are at the home of Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle and have removed electronics from the property.

FBI Special agent Wendy Osborne said Tuesday that the FBI was conducting an investigation in the Zionsville area but wouldn’t confirm it involved Fogle.

WTHR-TV and The Indianapolis Star report the house belongs to Fogle and that he was detained while electronics were removed from the home and analyzed inside a mobile forensics van.

Calls to Fogle’s home went unanswered Tuesday.

Omaha Police Announce Plan to Combat Gang Violence

gang-crackdownOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Police Department is sharing its plans to combat an increasing number of gang-related shootings in the city.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer and Mayor Jean Stothert spoke Monday about what’s driving violent crime and how they’re going to stop it. Although Omaha has less violent crime than it did four to eight years ago, Schmaderer and Stothert say gang and gun violence caused it to increase in January, May and June.

The Police Department has asked Nebraska State Patrol to help it patrol areas that have seen the most gang violence. Schmaderer says the joint patrolling effort will allow officers to arrest more violent gang members.

He says about 11 gangs are responsible for most of the violent crimes in Omaha.

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