Burglar gets 2-4 years in prison for probation violation

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook woman was sentenced last week in Red Willow County District Court to 2-4 years in state prison for violating her court ordered probation. The offender, 21-year-old Toni S. Hopkins of McCook, originally was sentenced to 36 months probation in February 2013 stemming from the burglary of a West First Street McCook residence.

According to court documents, Hopkins failed to report twice in March and again in April, in addition to testing positive for cannabis, methamphetamine and amphetamine in February.

During last week's District Court hearing, Hopkins was also sentenced to 1-3 years in state prison, to be served at the same time as her 2-4 year sentence, for her role in the January 2013 burglary of Nelseena's Leather Shop in Danbury, Nebraska.

Hopkins accepted a plea agreement in July in that case, reducing the original Class III felony burglary offense filed against her to a Class IV felony version of attempted burglary.

One of Hopkins' accomplices in the leather shop burglary, 22-year-old Joshua K. Sain of 412 E. Fifth Street, failed to appear to face probation violation accusations filed against him. Sain's absence prompted the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

According to court documents, Sain is accused of failing to report to his probation officer in July and testing positive for marijuana and methamphetamine in June. Sain was convicted of Class III felony burglary in June and sentenced to 30 months probation, stemming from his role in the leather shop burglary.

Other activity in Red Willow County District Court, Aug. 5, 2013;

* 31-year-old James W. Bonacci III accepted a plea agreement admitting guilt to a Class IV felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Bonacci was scheduled for sentencing at 9 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2013. Bonacci was originally charged with additional offenses of felony theft by receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and two offenses of possessing a deadly weapon by a prohibited person.

* 49-year-old Janet K. Slater of Culbertson, Nebraska, was sentenced to 24 months probation after accepting a plea agreement that admitted guilt to refusing a chemical test and a misdemeanor offense of attempting to possess methamphetamine.

Slater was arrested by the Nebraska State Patrol in September 2012 shortly after her vehicle pulled out of the Overtime Bar & Grill parking lot. She was originally cited with offenses of drunk driving, refusing to submit to a chemical test, felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and a misdemeanor offense for possession of a controlled substance in an unauthorized container.