OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska woman has been ordered to pay nearly $57,000 in restitution and spend a dozen consecutive weekends behind bars for filing fraudulent federal tax returns.

Federal prosecutors also say Magalita Gelin on Monday was sentenced to five years of probation that includes eight months of home confinement.

The prosecutors say that between February 2009 and August 2010, Gelin and Joshua Miles filed bogus returns for several people who went to couple’s home in Bellevue. The tax returns claimed refunds totaling more than $111,000.

Miles also has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing on June 19.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for a Nebraska man charged with killing his mother, throwing his 5-year-old half brother in a river and leaving his 11-month-old half brother in a dumpster.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Monday that several aggravating factors exist in the case against 25-year-old Roberto Martinez-Marinero.

Authorities say Martinez-Marinero surrendered to police Thursday and said he’d stabbed his mother, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero.

The 25-year-old man also said he’d thrown Josue Ramirez-Marinero in the Elkhorn River and put Angel Ramirez-Marinero in the dumpster.

Authorities found a body Monday that investigators believe is Josue.

Angel was found bruised but alive Wednesday in the dumpster in La Vista. His mother’s body was found Wednesday night in a southeast Omaha ditch.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say they’ve found the body of a 5-year-old boy whose adult brother is charged in the killing of their mother and whose younger brother was found alive in a dumpster.

Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said Monday that Josue Ramirez-Marinero’s body has been found, but he provided no details. Authorities have been searching the Elkhorn River on the west side of Omaha since last week.

Authorities say Josue’s brother Robert Martinez-Marinero surrendered to police Thursday and said he’d stabbed his mother, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero.

The 25-year-old man also said he’d thrown Josue in the river and put 11-month-old Angel Ramirez-Marinero in the dumpster.

Angel was found bruised but alive Wednesday in the dumpster in La Vista. His mother’s body was found Wednesday night in a southeast Omaha ditch.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University has demolished five buildings near the campus, but officials say they have no immediate plans to build on the newly vacant land.

University spokeswoman Cindy Workman said the buildings were empty and at least one was badly deteriorated. They were torn down last week and had housed mostly industrial businesses.

The school has said before that it plans to build an $82 million dental clinic to replace its aging, smaller space next to the Creighton University Medical Center. It’s seeking $8 million from the Nebraska Legislature to help pay for the building.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a driver died after his car rammed a traffic signal pole in northeast Lincoln.

The accident occurred a little before 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Police Capt. Danny Reitan says the roadway was wet from rain, but it’s uncertain whether weather played a role in the crash.

The man was alone in his car. His name hasn’t been released, pending notification of relatives.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska corrections officials believe other inmates likely killed two prisoners who died during a disturbance at a maximum security prison in southeast Nebraska.

State Corrections Director Scott Frakes didn’t provide many details about the deaths that were discovered Monday as officials regained control of the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Frakes said the deaths are still being investigated.

Speaking at a news conference, Frakes said 100 to 200 of the roughly 1,000 inmates at the prison were involved in the disturbance that began Sunday afternoon in front of a housing unit at the prison about 60 miles southwest of Lincoln.

Two prison staffers were assaulted in the initial disturbance. Frakes says one inmate was shot in the leg by a tower guard, and another inmate was injured by a rubber projectile.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A warrant has been issued for a man being sought in the stabbing death of a 31-year-old Omaha resident.

Omaha police say 37-year-old Juan Manuel Martinez is charged in the warrant with second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. No arrest has been reported.

Police say officers sent to a southeast Omaha residence about 1:30 a.m. Sunday found David Silva-Avalos, who died at the scene.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say two staff members were assaulted and two inmates have been injured in an ongoing disturbance at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

A press release from a Department of Correctional Services spokesman says the incident started Sunday afternoon. When staff members attempted to disperse a gathering of inmates in front of a housing unit, two workers were assaulted and one inmate was shot.

The statement says other incidents then took place in “multiple housing units,” resulting in small fires and property damage. A second inmate was injured.

The statement says the exterior of the facility is secured, and staff members are working to secure “all areas.” All workers are accounted for.

The statement gives no further details. Corrections department representatives couldn’t immediately be reached.

The Lincoln Journal-Star reports smoke rose from two housing units late Sunday.

BEAVER CROSSING, Neb. (AP) — A year after tornadoes caused significant damage to Beaver Crossing, residents say the eastern Nebraska town is still recovering.

Village Clerk Shannon Chesnut said he’s still finding glass and nails in his yard even after five clean-up efforts.

Pastor Tamara Holtz of Beaver Crossing United Methodist Church says the Seward County town has mostly started to feel like itself.

The town of about 400 people lost 30 buildings in the storm last Mother’s Day, but fewer than 10 families left. About 20 of the homes that were lost have been or are being rebuilt.

Most homes in town now have new roofs and windows. Chesnut says Beaver Crossing is working to help anyone who is short on money for repairs.

1:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches in several Midwest and Great Plains states through Sunday evening.

Watches have been issued for central and North Texas, central Oklahoma, western Arkansas, western Iowa, eastern Nebraska, central Missouri and parts of Minnesota and South Dakota.

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1:25 p.m.

A spokeswoman for a South Dakota hospital says that three people who were injured in the Delmont tornado are in good condition at Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston.

Avera spokeswoman Lindsey Meyers said all three people either drove themselves or were driven.

It wasn’t known how many more people were injured in the tornado, which hit about 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

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12:35 p.m.

Delmont fire chief Elmer Goehring says there “have been some injuries” from the tornado in Delmont, South Dakota, but told The Associated Press that he was too busy to provide details.

Delmont resident Anita Mathews says a Lutheran church and the city’s new fire hall were both heavily damaged in the tornado, which hit about 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

Mathews also says power is out in the town, which is about 90 miles southwest of Sioux Falls.

No deaths have been reported.

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12:15 p.m.

South Dakota Department of Public Safety spokesman Tony Mangan says there have been no reports of injuries after a tornado hit the small town of Delmont.

Mangan said local authorities asked for help from the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management.

The National Weather Service said a tornado hit Delmont about 10:45 a.m. Sunday. No deaths have been reported.

Delmont is about 90 miles southwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

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11:15 a.m.

The National Weather Service has received reports of a tornado hitting a small southern South Dakota town.

Meteorologist Philip Schumacher at the service’s Sioux Falls office says law enforcement officials said a tornado hit Delmont about 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

Delmont has about 200 residents and is about 90 miles southwest of Sioux Falls.

Schumacher said no deaths have been reported and it wasn’t known whether there were injuries. He said a couple buildings have been damaged.

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11 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches in several Midwest and Great Plains states, running until 9 p.m. Sunday in many places.

Watches have been issued for north and central Texas, eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, western Iowa, eastern Nebraska and parts of Minnesota and South Dakota.