LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man has been given 15 to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at his home in southeast Nebraska.
Online court records say 66-year-old Dennis Holman, of Denton, was sentenced on Thursday. He’d pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a minor after prosecutors lowered the charged and dropped another. He was credited for 32 days already served.
His wife had reported his crimes to Lancaster County sheriff’s deputies in December last year.
COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A 26-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a lesser murder charge and agreed to testify against two other people charged with stabbing to death a Columbus man.
Quentin Critser, of Lincoln, made his plea on Thursday morning in Platte County District Court. Prosecutors lowered the charge from first-degree murder in return for Critser’s plea.
Critser is expected to testify in January against 31-year-old Eric Henry and 32-year-old Kimberly Henderson, who are charged with first-degree murder and use of a weapon. The three are accused of killing Steven Jorgensen at Jorgensen’s Columbus home on May 18.
Authorities say the three intended to rob the 51-year-old Jorgensen, but the robbery turned violent when Jorgensen resisted.
Critser’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 13.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Starting next year, Nebraska lawyers will not be forced to pay for lobbying and other programs run by the state bar association.
The change comes with a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling issued Friday on a petition by a state lawmaker who wanted to make paying annual dues to the Nebraska Bar Association voluntary. Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh objected to mandatory dues being used for political, ideological and other non-germane activities.
The state’s high court rejected the petition for a voluntary bar association, but did limit mandatory dues to only activities necessary to regulate the legal profession — like maintaining records and mandating continuing education for lawyers. But it made voluntary those dues that would go for other activities, such as lobbying and programs that provide free legal help to the poor.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An appointee to the Nebraska Legislature has withdrawn his name, saying his father in Oklahoma just suffered a heart attack and he needs to care for his mother.
The announcement on Friday also followed news that Patrick M. Shannon owes the state $16,000 for campaign-disclosure violations during an unsuccessful bid for the Legislature in 2004.
Gov. Dave Heineman announced Friday morning that he had chosen Shannon, of Bellevue, to finish the term of former state Sen. Scott Price. Price resigned in November.
Less than five hours later, Shannon sent a letter to the governor’s office asking that his name be withdrawn.
The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission ruled in 2006 that Shannon failed to report expenditures and contributions related to an anonymous mailing that accused his opponent of domestic abuse.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say the owner of a west Omaha skate shop faces charges in connection with the discovery of 18 pounds of marijuana at his business.
A raid Wednesday night at Wake N Skate Boardhouse resulted in the discovery. Additional information about the search has not been released.
The owner of the store, 31-year-old Hans Schroeder, was arrested Wednesday night. He faces three charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver. Court records do not list an attorney.
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado judge says a baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony must serve gay couples despite his religious beliefs.
Friday’s order from administrative law judge Robert N. Spencer says Masterpiece Cakeshop in suburban Denver will face fines if it continues to turn away gay couples who want to buy cakes for their wedding celebrations.
An attorney for Masterpiece Cakeshop did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Shop owner Jack Phillips had argued that making cakes for gay wedding ceremonies violates his Christian beliefs.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint against Phillips with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission last year on behalf of Charlie Craig and David Mullins. The couple was married in Massachusetts and wanted a wedding cake to celebrate in Colorado.
The Nebraska State Patrol released a short video showing the rescue of eight hunters and a dog from an icy Missouri River in Northeast Nebraska yesterday. If you didn’t see the story, check it out here: https://www.northplattepost.com/2013/12/05/8-nebraska-hunters-rescued-from-missouri-river/
COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus man has pleaded guilty to six counts of possessing child pornography.
Sentencing has been set Jan. 31 for 35-year-old Christopher Fleming. Prosecutors dropped six counts of porn distribution and two more counts of child porn possession in exchange for Fleming’s pleas.
Fleming fled the Columbus area in mid-April after an arrest warrant was issued. He surrendered in May. At an earlier court hearing, Fleming told a judge he ignored the warrant so he could spend time with his dying father in Texas.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Former state Sen. Brenda Council has been given three years of probation on one federal count of wire fraud.
A federal judge in Omaha also fined Council $500 on Thursday.
She’d pleaded guilty in September to spending money from campaign donations to gamble at casinos. Council agreed to plead guilty after prosecutors said they’d ask the judge to give her probation.
Council pleaded guilty last year to two state misdemeanor counts of filing false campaign finance reports. State prosecutors say the reports concealed her misuse of more than $63,000 in campaign donations at casinos. She was fined $500.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers, who beat Council to regain the legislative seat he held for 38 years, filed a complaint in 2012 that prompted the U.S. attorney’s investigation.
SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a 16-year-old Schuyler boy who died in a rollover crash southwest of Schuyler.
The Colfax County attorney’s office identified the boy as Ramon Azcunaga, a student at Schuyler Central High School.
Authorities say Azcunaga was a passenger in a car that ran off a gravel road and rolled over in a farm field a little after 4 a.m. Thursday. Azcunaga was ejected.
Two other boys in the car were treated at the scene and released. Their names haven’t been released.
The crash is still being investigated. An autopsy was ordered.
