McCook man pleads no contest to school, liquor store break-ins

TRENTON, Nebraska -- Hitchcock and Hayes County District Judge David Urbom Thursday afternoon found guilty the 18-year-old McCook, Nebraska, man accused of breaking into a Culbertson liquor store and Hayes Center Public Schools last summer.

During a joint Hitchcock and Hayes county hearing in Hitchcock County District Court in Trenton Thursday afternoon, Judge Urbom ordered a pre-sentencing investigation for Miguel A. Navarro after Navarro changed his "not guilty" plea to "no contest" to charges of burglary of K&B Liquor in Culbertson on June 9 and of the Hayes Center Public Schools during the night of July 21-22.

Burglary is a Class 3 felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine. Judge Urbom explained to Navarro that it is possible that sentences for both crimes could be served consecutively, and that he could order that Navarro pay restitution to the victims.

Hayes/Hitchcock county attorney D. Eugene Garner told Judge Urbom that Navarro entered K&B Liquor by breaking the locked front door and took cigarettes valued at $323.

Garner said that Navarro used a pry bar to open a door at the Hayes Center High School, where he took Apple iPads, iBooks, televisions, lap tops and tools valued at more than $9,000.

Judge Urbom continued Navarro's $25,000 bond, and he was returned to jail.

Garner said he would not object to a consolidated sentencing (with Navarro facing similar charges in Red Willow and Furnas counties), which Judge Urbom scheduled in Red Willow County District Court in McCook on Monday, April 8, at 9:30 a.m.