McCook man reaches plea agreement on drug charge

HAYES CENTER -- A McCook man charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute has reached a plea agreement and will be sentenced on an amended drug charge in January.

Jeff Whitaker of McCook was to have gone to trial in Hayes County Friday, Nov. 22. Instead, County Attorney Joel Phillips said Whitaker pleaded guilty to Class IV felony possession of methamphetamine, in exchange for the state dropping the distribution portion of the original charge. Possession with intent to distribute is a Class III felony, Phillips said.

Whitaker was arrested May 12 after Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Jamie Balthazor noticed Whitaker's trailer did not have lights or a license plate. A search turned up a large and a small cache of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, marijuana and a large quantity of cash.

A passenger in Whitaker's pickup, Mary Haller of McCook, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and paid the $100 fine in July.