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Officials Revoke License of Omaha Child Care Provider

DHHS(AP) — Nebraska regulators have revoked the child care license of an Omaha woman.

The state Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release Thursday that Danielle Phelps’ license was removed in an emergency order issued last week. That means the agency felt immediate action was necessary to protect the well-being and safety of a child.

The order means Phelps can’t provide care for any children except her own. Parents enrolled in the child care program linked to Phelps have been notified of the order.

Additional information about the case has not been released. Phelps is allowed to request a hearing regarding her revocation order.

Human Remains in Iowa Belong to Neb. Man

Iowas-Department-of-Public-Safety(AP) — Skeletal remains found along an interstate bridge in western Iowa have been identified as a Nebraska man accused of fleeing arrest nearly two years ago.

The state Division of Criminal Investigation announced Thursday that remains discovered on Oct. 11 belong to 21-year-old Chance Fletcher, of Omaha. They were positively identified through dental records.

Fletcher was last seen alive during a police pursuit on Dec. 15, 2011. He is accused of leading a police chase in a stolen vehicle. Local police say Fletcher wrecked the car near the I-480 bridge and escaped on foot. Authorities were later unable to find him.

Omaha Police’s missing persons unit coordinated the area search on Oct. 11. Fletcher’s remains were discovered in a drainage ditch.

Mother of Bullied Girl Looking at Legal Options

Rebecca Sedwick
Rebecca Sedwick

(AP) — The mother of a 12-year-old Florida girl who jumped to her death after being bullied for months is exploring her legal options.

Attorneys said Thursday that they’ve taken no legal action yet on behalf of Rebecca Sedwick’s mother. But they haven’t ruled out suing Polk County schools or the parents of two girls who were arrested in connection with Sedwick’s death.

Among the attorneys representing the mother, Tricia Norman, is former Gov. Charlie Crist.

Norman’s attorneys say they plan to establish a website to help her raise money to pay for funeral costs. Any additional funds will be used for anti-bullying causes.

Two of Sedwick’s schoolmates, who deputies say were primarily responsible for the bullying, were arrested last week. They were charged with stalking.

Officials: Neb. Boy, Girl Tried to Kill Girl’s Mom

police-lights-red(AP) — A 14-year-old girl and her 15-year-old boyfriend in Nebraska have been accused of trying to kill the girl’s mother because she disapproved of the relationship.

Chief Deputy Douglas County Attorney Brenda Beadle says the teens each face a charge of attempted murder in juvenile court.

Beadle says the teens will likely face probation and other lesser punishments.

Authorities say the mother was not seriously injured in the Oct. 14 incident, which involved the boy jumping on the woman’s back and the girl trying to hit her mother with a frying pan.

The mother is not interested in pursuing a prosecution, but Beadle says the attack warrants an investigation and juvenile court oversight.

Omaha Apartment Building Locked Down After Report of Armed Man

(AP) — Omaha police say a lockdown at an apartment building has been lifted after the search for a man believed to be armed moved away from the area.

Officer James Shade says the Livestock Exchange Building was cleared Wednesday afternoon after police searched the area and determined there was no immediate threat to residents. There are no reports of injuries.

Police received a report around 4 p.m. about a former tenant who was armed and had confronted management about being evicted. Officers searched the building and determined the man had left by the time they arrived.

Additional information about a weapon was not available. Police continue to look for the man, whose name has not been released.

Neb., SD Troopers Aim to Reduce Car Accidents

state-patrol-logoTroopers from Nebraska and South Dakota will team up for a day of special enforcement activities in an effort to reduce the potential for serious injury and fatality crashes.

The special enforcement with a focus on impaired and distracted driving is planned for Friday, October 25 and will include troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol Troop B Headquarters- Norfolk and troopers from the South Dakota Highway Patrol District #2-Sioux Falls.

“Through this effort we are hoping to send the message that roadway safety is a shared responsibility,” said Troop B Commander Captain Paul Hattan.

Captain Kevin Joffer Commander Patrol District #2 said, “Not only must we as law enforcement work together to keep our roads safe, we need the cooperation of the motoring public as well.”

Special enforcement efforts will begin Friday morning and continue into the early morning hours on Saturday, October 26. During that time troopers will conduct high visibility patrol and a DUI checkpoint along the Highway 81 corridor joining both states.

The Nebraska State Patrol and the South Dakota Highway Patrol encourage all motorists to do their part to stay safe by never driving impaired or distracted and always buckling up.

Ex-CSI Official Found Liable in Nebraska Lawsuit

David Kofoed
David Kofoed

(AP) — A federal judge has entered a default judgment against former Douglas County crime scene investigator David Kofoed in two wrongful prosecution lawsuits.

Matthew Livers and Nicholas Sampson sued several Nebraska law enforcement agencies and officials, including Kofoed, who spend two years in prison for evidence tampering in the case. Prosecutors said Kofoed planted blood evidence in a car to bolster a case against Livers and Sampson, who were later exonerated.

The other defendants agreed to pay a total of $2.6 million to the men to settle the suits.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon noted in his order Tuesday that Kofoed did not answer the lawsuits’ complaints or appear for hearings or trial.

A judgment on damages against Kofoed will be determined later.

Kofoed could not be reached for comment.

Judge Grants York Man His Wish for Prison Time

jail(AP) — A district judge has granted a 26-year-old York man his wish: prison time.

Jacob Harris’ attorney acknowledged that the request was unusual. Attorney Steve Fillman told Judge Patrick Mullen on Monday that Harris wanted the prison time despite being a candidate for probation.

Harris said he wanted to go to prison and that he was sorry for what he’d done. Harris was convicted of theft and attempted burglary.

Prosecutor Candace Dick says Harris had said he didn’t want to be baby-sat by probation officials.

Mullen sentenced Harris to 18 to 45 months for the attempted burglary and 90 days for the theft. The two sentences will be served at the same time.

He was credited for nine days already served.

Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Lincoln School Attack

gavel-more(AP) — A 16-year-old girl has pleaded not guilty to attacking another student in a bathroom at Lincoln’s Pius X High School.

A 17-year-old student at the school was attacked on Oct. 7 by a girl using a knife and hammer. The victim has since returned to school after facial surgery and a brief stay in a Lincoln hospital. Police and school officials have said they’ve found no direct connection between the two girls.

Online court records say the suspect waived her right to appear for arraignment in Lancaster County District Court and made the pleas to felony charges of assault and use of a deadly weapon.

The Associated Press is not using the girl’s name because the AP generally doesn’t identify juveniles accused of crimes.

Fremont Man Faces Sentencing in Fraud Case

gavel-and-scale(AP) — A December sentencing has been scheduled for a Fremont man convicted in an insurance fraud case.

According to court records, 24-year-old Christopher Naber conspired to have his pickup burned. He pleaded no contest to the felony charge and to a misdemeanor for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Naber told investigators that he couldn’t afford the payments on his truck but wanted to protect his credit rating. Prosecutors say Naber gave two accomplices his truck keys so they could drive it away and get rid of it. He reported to police on Aug. 28 last year that the pickup had been stolen and later filed an insurance report.

The fire-damaged truck was found near a pond in Douglas County.

Naber is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9.

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