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GoogleHerchel Huff, 35, has pleaded not guilty to charges of motor vehicle homicide, tampering with a witness and refusal to submit to a chemical test in the death of Kasey Jo Warner, who died Oct. 3, 2007, when she pushed her young daughter out of the path of Huff's car on a county road southwest of Arapahoe. The little girl lived, but Kasey did not.
During a hearing in Lexington Wednesday, Furnas County District Judge James Doyle IV increased Huff's bond to $2 million cash, following Huff's arrest in Kearney Dec. 3 for violating conditions of his release on $250,000/10 percent bond.
Furnas County Attorney Tom Patterson, who is prosecuting Huff with the assistance of Mike Guinan of the Nebraska Attorney General's office, said Thursday afternoon that the motor vehicle homicide charge against Huff includes the violation of driving while intoxicated.
Patterson said that the motor vehicle homicide charge increases from a Class III felony to a Class II felony with a prior conviction for driving while intoxicated.
Patterson said Huff has two earlier DWI convictions in Colorado, and another driving while intoxicated charge is pending in Lincoln County. The Lincoln County charge and the Furnas County charge could be considered Huff's third and fourth offense.
Huff is expected to appear to answer the Lincoln County charges on Jan. 16.
In the meantime, Madison County officials want to visit with Huff about charges against him there, where he is charged with felony theft by deception. No one from the Madison County attorney's office was immediately available to explain those charges in more detail.
At the same time, Huff is charged with two stop sign violations and a speeding charge in Frontier County.
Frontier County Attorney Jon Schroeder said Thursday afternoon that Huff's lawyers have requested two continuances on his court appearances there, waiting, Schroeder said, most likely for the result of the Furnas County case.
Schroeder said he expects Huff to plead guilty to the Frontier County charges as the violations were witnessed by a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officer.
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It is so sad that this guy is getting all these extentions. Kasey Jo did not have a choice to extend her life. If I was her family, I would sue the system that let him out after having so many previous dui's. It is not fair.
Why is all this just now comming out? It is because we, as voters have failed. We have elected total SISSIES as county attorneys. We are more concerned about how our children will be treated if they get an MIP. So we elect these pansies who won't rock the boat when minors get caught drinking or drunk. I wonder how many MIP's Huff had?
This next election cycle lets show Kasey Jo her death wasn't meaningless. Vote these jokes out of office and elect prosecuters who have a pair (females included). Don't elect a county attorney who begins spouting about saving taxpayers money, this is code for not wanting to lose a case. Now county attorneys, get out there and do your job!
In my opinion, the charges in other counties should not matter. Mr Huff was arrested for 2 other drunk driving offenses prior to Furnas county incident. This man knew that drinking and driving is dangerous and illegal, unless he is insane or just stupid, he also knew that he had a problem with substance abuse prior to the incident. He should be charged with 1st degree murder, and the car should be considered the murder weapon. In a perfect world the prosecution should be seeking life in prison, or the death penalty.
Mr. "Chunky Peanut Butter" has a good point about electing different prosecutors, but what about the judges? They will come up for review sometime in the future, just vote "NO" to retain them.
Kasey was a good person, her survivors deserve more respect from the system.
This just gets better and better. This guy is one real citizen isn't he. I think the time for plea bargains is over. I think it's time his public defenders just tell him to quit and just go to prison.
Everytime I read about him it makes me sick. He has hurt so many people simply by being a useless, stupid, ignorant, piece of garbage this world shouldn't have to tolerate, or defend.
If this was 150 years ago we wouldn't have been talking about him right now other than in the past tense. I think a tree and a rope would have done a better job than the 2 laywers working to keep him out of prison.
I'm sick of this. What do we need to do right now to make sure the courts know we want due justice, we want him behind bars forever, we want him to suffer the rest of his life for what he's done.
I have to say that if this was this guys first time offense and it was a mistake and a error of judgement, even though he has hurt us so much we should be forgiving, but I don't think this guy has a concience. I don't think he cares about Gentry and Berkley. I don't think he cares that he's teaching his kids to do nothing other than follow is in sad footsteps.
Let's return the favor to him and not care what happens to him. Lets see him off the streets and nowhere near his family so he can't hurt them too.
GO TO PRISON HUFF! GO TO PRISON!
Let's cut to the chase. This guy is a real piece of work. Send him to prison without parole and do hard time in the process.
Lawyers for him are just trying to make a name for themselves and get big money for it. They don't care about anything else. Maybe they are ones who have been to prison also. Seems like all the new lawyers today have been in prison and know all the loop-holes in the laws. It isn't fair at all and the comment about judges, yes we need new ones. Make the case cut and dried. No strings attached. Don't drag it out for a year or so. That is what the defendant and his lawyers want.
The Warner family should be compensated by the defendant and his lawyers for all the heartache and crap they put them through. I do feel sorry for that family.
As for the defendant, HELL NO!!!!! He deserves all that he will get.
Shame on the lawyers and judges for putting Kasey Jo's family through so much. Shame on Mr. Huff for letting his mom put up bail for his deadbeat ass and then disrespect her and anyone that could or would believe in him. Sit in jail Mr. Huff as you have hurt more than your share of innocent victims. I don't know what I would do if I was Mr. Huff's mother and I am glad I won't ever know. My heart feels for her as I can't imagine what she deals with daily. Unfortunately it pales in comparison to what Kasey Jo's mom and family feel. We have wasted enough time and the Judge and lawyers have spent enough time being equally as stupid as Mr. Huff so lets get this done and get Mr. Huff his damn glasses and fitted into his prison jumpsuit that he should wear the rest of his life!
Why does he need glasses? The way all of this took place when he ran over Mrs. Warner, he didn't have glasses on. Hmmm??? That is real interesting. Another way to stall the trial. His mother is on his side. I wouldn't feel sorry for any of them. If you would put up your house for bond money, you have feelings for him. He sure didn't talk her into it.
The court system takes time, too much sometimes, to hear cases. If they want quick justice, turn him loose in the center of Arapahoe. Let everyone know what is going to happen. But, we aren't that type of society. We now have to pamper the accused and make sure they are fine. Give them all they want till the final decision. And then, give them everything to make them comfy in prison. Exercise equipment, a law library (now you know why many new lawyers know all the loop-holes), and acess to education. That is what our society has come to.